Ecofruit project

Key project outcomes:

• Income of 500 rural families is increased by 50% due to expanding strawberry production
• Rural families get access to new sales channels (wholesale fresh market and industrial processing). Coop strengthens its capacity as a vital chain between producers and consumers.
• By 2017 more than 1300 rural families will improve their knowledge on strawberry value added and environmentally friendly practices. Strawberry coop appearing in other communities.
• Creation of cooperative field up to 25 ha
• Supporting of family farms in strawberry production
• Purchasing of soil tillage equipment, irrigation system and thermo truck
• Building of cooling chamber.

Period of project implementation:

• І – phase (2012-2014 )
• ІІ – phase (2015-2017)

Project donors:

Heifer international

Ecosystem Fund Danone

Dantrade

Danone Ukraine – the costumer for strawberry

Project partners :

• Kremenets district council and administration
• Ternopil oblast council and administration
• Losiatyn village council,
• USAID
• Cooperatives and family farms

Innovative Farming and Cooperation NGO (Implementing Partner in terms of Ecofruit Project, Phase 2)

Project budget ($):

• 1 537 000 Euro (first and second phase in total)

Project implementation area:

• Ternopil and Lviv regions

Project previuos phases’ result:

• Since 2014, coop cover the needs of Danone-Ukraine in strawberry for 100%
• Planted 29ha of strawberry

(22 ha on joint field and 7 ha with family farms)

• Coop and its enterprise were equipped with all needed equipment for soil cultivation, irrigation, strawberry logistic
• Family farms got solid knowledge and financing for strawberry plantation
• Constructed cooling and freezing chambers and purchased thermo-truck
• Attracted USAID and UNDP grants for chambers construction

Social impact of the project

• More than 300 people increase their income for 30-50% annualy working as seasonal workers in coop’s field and in family farms
• Created more than 60 permanent working places
• Decreased labor migration of local people abroad
• More than 1000 people participated on strawberry production, quality requirements and sale
• Coop’s managers receive tractor services, purchase high quality seedlings, fertilizers and plant protection means
• Coop’s members are able to sell their strawberry through coop having proper varieties

Family farm development

• In 2014 five family farms received cofinancing for plantation of 7 ha of strawberry
• Farmers got high quality plants and system of drip irrigation;
• All other costs on field preparation, water supplying and labor cost were covered by farmers;
• In 2015 first harvest in 56 t was obtained by farmers;
• Major part (about 80%) was sold to Danone and less (20%) to fresh market;
• Average sale price was 16 UAH/kg;
• totally family farms income was 900 kUAH for sold strawberry.  

Projects photo