(a) In general

To further assist developing countries, middle-income countries, and emerging markets to increase farm production and farmer incomes, the President may, notwithstanding any other provision of law -

(1)

establish and administer a program of farmer-to-farmer assistance between the United States and such countries to assist in increasing food production and distribution and improving the effectiveness of the farming and marketing operations of farmers;

(2)

utilize United States farmers, agriculturalists, land grant universities, private agribusinesses, and nonprofit farm organizations to work in conjunction with farmers and farm organizations in such countries, on a voluntary basis, to facilitate the improvement of farm and agribusiness operations and agricultural systems in such countries, including animal care and health, field crop cultivation, fruit and vegetable growing, livestock operations, food processing and packaging, farm credit, marketing, inputs, agricultural extension, and the strengthening of cooperatives and other farmer groups;

(3)

transfer the knowledge and expertise of United States agricultural producers and businesses, on a people-to-people basis, to such countries while enhancing the democratic process by supporting private and public agriculturally related organizations that request and support technical assistance activities through cash and in-kind services;

(4)

to the extent practicable, enter into contracts or other cooperative agreements with or make grants to private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, land grant universities, private agribusiness, or nonprofit farm organizations to carry out this section (except that any such contract or other agreement may obligate the United States to make outlays only to the extent that the budget authority for such outlays is available pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or has otherwise been provided in advance in appropriation Acts);

(5)

coordinate programs established under this section with other foreign assistance activities carried out by the United States; and

(6)

to the extent that local currencies can be used to meet the costs of a program established under this section, augment funds of the United States that are available for such a program through the use of foreign currencies that accrue from the sale of agricultural commodities under this chapter, and local currencies generated from other types of foreign assistance activities, within the country where the program is being conducted.

(b) Definitions

The following definitions apply for purposes of this section:

(1) Emerging market

The term ''emerging market'' means any country that the Secretary determines -

(A)

is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through the food, agriculture, or rural business sectors of the economy of the country; and

(B)

has the potential to provide a viable and significant market for United States agricultural commodities or products of United States agricultural commodities.

(2) Middle income country

The term ''middle income country'' means a country that has developed economically to the point where it does not receive bilateral development assistance from the United States.

(c) Minimum funding

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not less than 0.4 percent of the amounts made available for each of the fiscal years 1996 through 2002 to carry out this chapter, in addition to any funds that may be specifically appropriated to carry out this section, shall be used to carry out programs under this section, with not less than 0.2 percent to be used for programs in developing countries