Opening of two family farms in Zaporizhzhia region
On November З0, 2015 in the village of Zhovtneve, Tokmak raion, Zaporizhzhia oblast an official ceremony of opening of two family farms that were created within the framework of USAID/Partnership for Innovation Project: “Development of family farms united in agricultural service cooperatives” took place. The project is implemented by ICF COMMUNITY WELLBEING in partnership with Danone Ukraine, NGO “Agricultural advisory service” and Union of agricultural service cooperatives “Hospodar”, cofunded by Danone Ecosystem Fund and the Government of Canada, and supported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine that is also a beneficiary of the project.
The event began in the House of Culture with a welcoming speech of Natalia Antypenko, a head of the village council, who stressed the importance of the project for community development, and said that the project not only contributes to increasing incomes of farmers, but also gives a chance to all villagers to expand their households. Ruslan Horenko, a head of “Zhovtneve” cooperative, agreed with it, and added that created farms would promote the cooperative strengthening in particular and the idea of cooperative model in region in general.
Viktor Teres, a Chair of the Board of ICF COMMUNITY WELLBEING, stated that a modern business model, when agricultural service cooperatives unite professional family farms, capable of supplying quality milk and receiving a fair price for it, would become the most successful model of business activity in the village, which is proved by the best world practices. Family wellbeing means wellbeing and development for the whole community.
“I believe that development of family farms is very important for Ukrainian rural communities and they are the real alternative of better life. I wish “Zhovtneve” cooperative all the success!”, said Kenneth Dunn, Agricultural Officer of Office of Economic Growth USAID mission for Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Cyprus.
Oleh Khomenko, a head of department for scientific & educational provision and enterprise development in rural area, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, promised that the Ministry would continue provision of comprehensive assistance and contribute to development of small forms of business and their unions. The Ministry is also going to support all types of initiatives of donors and local communities, aimed at implementation of the similar projects that are very important for Ukrainian villages.
In her speech Iryna Kukhtina, Director of Procurement Department, Danone Ukraine, said that creating and developing family farms we create future. This primarily concerns the quality improvement, i.e. the quality of Ukrainian milk, the quality of life in the village and the quality of food products for our children and us.
Claire Petit, Junior Manager of Danone Ecosystem Fund noted that “Ukraine Milk Communities’ was the pioneer project for Danone Ecosystem Fund, which as of today has supported 64 initiatives around the world. Currently, Danone Ecosystem Fund supports three projects in Ukraine with a total budget of 3,741,190 EUR, helping villagers in production of dairy and fruit products, and contributing to development of dairy sector of Ukraine.
Maksym Maksymov, director of Dnipropetrovsk NGO “Agricultural advisory service”, stated that agricultural service cooperation allows to unite efforts of their members and sell milk in bulk. However, only adequate cooperatives can organize selling milk in bulk, thus, increasing incomes of cooperative members and improving lives of Ukrainian people.
Representatives of local government and self-government welcomed guests and once again stressed the importance of the project for the region and wished success to Project holders and participants.
After the official ceremony, participants moved to the family farm of Tsariov & Babych, later to the family farm of Bezruchko, where two farms were officially opened. Guests had a chance to communicate with farmers and hear their opinions on family farms and their benefits from participation in the project.
Opened family farms were transformed from the households of members of “Zhovtneve” agricultural service cooperative.
It is expected that created family farms – each for 20 head of cattle – with installed milk mini cooling tanks will supply through the cooperative milk of the first grade to Danone Dnipro in the city of Kherson.
Due to improved animal keeping conditions, including automated water system, quality systems of ventilation and lightning as well as the use of quality rubber mats for animals’ rest, productivity of livestock will increase at least by15-25%. Those improvements will allow families to decrease the amount of time spent around the household and significantly improve work conditions for adults, especially women while keeping more livestock. Increased volume of produced milk and improved quality will result in higher incomes for families.
Family farms of Tsariov & Babych and Bezruchko will receive two highly productive heifers each, and according to the agreement will pass on the first female offspring to other family farms that are coop members.
