in Central and Eastern Europe

Small Scale Cattle Farms

Heifer International Model of Sustainable Management

of Small Scale Cattle Farms

in Central and Eastern Europe

Heifer International… reduce hunger, poverty and degradation of environment in rural

areas, through the development of livestock and education …

Heifer International assists poor farmers provide food for theirfamilies and improve their income through donation of animals,

education, technical assistance for development of small scale farms.

Heifer International works in 128 countries in Asia, Africa, Central Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean and North America,

improving the life of about 24 million people in these 60 years.

Central Eastern Europe Program of Heifer International started in 1992, actually working in 8 established country offices and implementing projects in 7 other countries

Albania MacedoniaArmeniaGeorgiaAzerbaijanKosovoLithuaniaLatvia EstoniaPoland RomaniaMoldova RussiaUkraineSlovakia

Established Offices:

Central Eastern Europe Program

Heifer InternationalCentral Eastern Europe Program mission is to assist small scale private farms to achieve self-reliance in a free market economy through:- building sustainable farming systems- training of farmers- donation of qualitative animals- implementation of “Passing on the Gift” philosophy

During these years, CEE Program is quickly developed and extended.

Over 180 projects are in implementation, 110 of them involving cattle or mixed animal types.

6000 heifers are donated through these projects.

4000 other animals are provided through “Passing On the Gift” philosophy.

About 10000 families are assisted by the projects involving donation of cattle.

Central Eastern Europe Program Heifer International

The development of family farms in countries of Central Eastern Europe have their own characteristics compared to other countries of the world. -- emergence from a centralized state economical system- a great number of family farms with limited opportunities- affinity to a developed economical zone and integration to European Union market.

Situation of family farms in CEE

Comparative data of actual situation Percentage of the family farms to the total farms number

0.50.057.00.9537.420.155.178.8Albania

3.70.310.21.416.15.631.922.238.170.5Armenia

28.51.410.32.48.93.718.314.63477.9Latvia

19113212520153678Lithuania

20.92.726.57.617.310.212.714.222.665.3Poland

Cows%

Farms%

Cows%

Farms%

Cows%

Farms%

Cows%

Farms%

Cows%

Farms %

20 and more10-195-93-41 -2

S i z e o f t h e f a r m s (cows per farm)Countries

The main focus of Heifer International is on family farms, taking a great percentage of the total number of farms.

Percentage of family farms (1-2 cows): 65.3% in Poland, 78 % in Albania, Lithuania, Latvia, 70% in Armenia.Percentage of cows in these farms: 22.6 % in Poland, 55.1 % in Albania, 34-38% in Armenia, Lithuania and Latvia.

If including farms breeding 3-4 cows:Percentage of family farms: 79.5% in Poland, 98.8 in Albania, 92-93 % in Armenia, Lithuania and Latvia.Percentage of cows in these farms: 35.3% in Poland, 92.5% in Albania, 52.3-70% in Lithuania, Latvia and Armenia.

Family farms in CEE Program

(After analysis of specific conditions of CEE countries, as: emergence from a centralized state economy, network of small scale fragmented farms, opportunities of integration in European market)

Heifer International ModelHeifer International has chosen “the sustainable development and management of small scale family farms” as the best approach to achieve its objectives

41001.2No private1.21.34.8Albania

50800.8-20.30.5-1.516-8Kosovo

17000.5No private0.516Armenia(Caucasian)

39001.310.32.23.3Russia

400032.50.51-24.9-5.5Lithuania(Baltic)

35002021-23.7Ukraine

400073-3.53.53-54Poland

TotalPasture Cultivated

Milk yield per lactation (liters per

cow)

Land per farm / family (ha)Average nr ofcows per farm

Average persons

per family

Country

Data on family farm size in some countries of CEE Program

Heifer International supports poor families, with many family members and limited economical opportunities with inputs, training, technical assistance and activities,

… but in about 3-5 years Heifer encourages the concept of sustainable development of farms, ensuring the generation of income …

Based on this working method, Heifer International is extended with cattle projects in 15 European countries, where about 180 projects are implemented or are under implementation, 110 of them involving cattle or mixed kinds of animals

23HolsteinSimmentalJerseyBrown Swiss

96212801800-161998Albania

14HolsteinSimmental

84114201420-101999Kosovo

17Black &White Arshire;Holstein, Red &WhiteKostromskay, Simmental

2004175721162001Russia

25Local catlle2377902820*12131999Armenia(Caucasian)

12HolsteinLatvian Brown Lithuanian Black &White

110235420641999Lithuania(Baltic)

20Black &WhiteRed &WhiteBrown CarpathianRed Stepe

475800115010121994Ukraine

30Spot cattleBrown Swiss

4802131992Romania

35Polish RedSimmentalHF

2525425275101992Poland

Total projects*

BreedNo of POG

No heifers distributed

Families involved

MixedProject

Cattleprojects

Program Start Year

Countries

Data on project, animals, breeds in some countries of CEE Program

Activities – projects implementation:The main elements in designing/implementation of projects are:

- Performance of preliminary study for the region - Identification of the beneficiary farmers’ groups based on defined

criteria.After project approval, implementation follows these phases.

- Completion of a complete training package including knowledge on Heifer International cornerstones, animal breeding and communitydevelopment.

- Provision of technical assistance directly to the farmers - Distribution of appropriate quality breed animals - Support with inputs and veterinary assistance to the farms- Performance of continuous evaluations and monitoring on project

progress based on the project objectives.

Albania

Kosovo

Russia

Azerbai.

Georgia

Armenia

Latvia

Lithuania

Ukraine

Poland

Farm mechanization

AIEquip.

Vet. treatMedic.

Microcredit

Cool-ingtanks

Milkingmachine

Drin-kers

Forageseeds

Concen-trate / additive

StableHeifersState

Support of farmers groups with inputs in different countries of CEE Program

Heifer International in cooperation with partners is actually working for:- further consolidation of family farms, - supporting farmers associations for improvement

- management capabilities - professional education - offering information on market, processing, marketing

- opportunities for loans

Bringing work to this phase enabled farmers of CEE countries to be prepared to comply to standards and requirements of the European Community, where they wish to be integrated.

Many projects aim at this objective, as in Poland, Romania, Lithuania or Integrated Dairy Development Project - TMF in Albania.

1106040411.5Albania

120703030.5-12-3Kosovo

10070304Use communal

2Armenia(Caucasian)

1250703010103Russia

100-15070302-32-51Lithuania(Baltic)

9070303-52-32-3Ukraine

2608812625Poland

MarketFamily consum

ption

PastureCultivated

Approximately averageincome $/monthexpected from

livestock

Milk used %No. cows per farm

Land per farm (ha)Country

Opinion on the size of sustainable small scale cattle farms in some countries of CEE Program

Identified Problems- Small funds for qualitative animals and investments in farm - Low milk price- High production cost (fuel and agricultural equipments)- Insufficient stable equipment to enable advanced technology- Small financial resources for farm development- Insufficient knowledge and professionalism (marketing / business)- Insufficient knowledge on entrepreneurship- Lack of modern equipment for milking, production and stable- Insufficient resources for stable modernization, manure processing- Lack of ecological farms (ecological products are really expensive)- Limited arable land / pasture surface- Unstable milk market- Lack of mechanization- Lack of collecting points and milk markets- Unbalanced feeding of cows - Problems in cow reproduction after first calving- Expensive veterinary service

Recommendations for action- Training, distribution of information, best farming practices, agribusiness and advanced technologies- Establishment of structures to help farmers sell products- Distribution of more financial and material resources for farms- Training associated with material investments for the development of practical skills for an effective entrepreneurship- Encouragement of farmers towards the establishment of associations- Sharing the cost of collecting points and other investments- Help in the establishment of milk collecting points- Support with important and necessary medicaments for the farm- Support of forage production and provision of equipments for animal feed processing

Conclusions:

In 14 years, Central Eastern Europe Program is extended in 15 countries with over 110 cattle projects. “Passing on the Gift” philosophy is reflected in donation of 6000 heifers and pass-on of about 4000 offspring of them, assisting about 10,000 poor families.

The CEE Program contributes to the reduction of poverty in rural areas through the establishment of a model of sustainable family farms.

The contribution of Heifer International through the donation of animals, training, technology transfer and support with input has created a vast network of small scale farmers’ groups and associations, which have the capacities to be involved in development programs.

ConclusionsMain identified problems:- fragmented familiar economy with low land and pasture surface; - limited opportunities for investments in the farm, low mechanization level; - insufficient practical knowledge and skills in animal breeding and feeding,

veterinary service, marketing and entrepreneurship; high production cost, unstable market.

Recommended Solutions:-Effective training programs and practical education of farmers on animal

breeding and feeding, farm management, marketing, agriculture business, animal reproduction and health, quality, livestock products standards and safety (food chain) and ecological farms.

-Participation in costs for providing equipment in family farms, establishment of product collecting points and markets, and opportunities for loans.

-Support in the establishment and strengthening of farmers’ associations as an opportunity of small scale farmers to survive in a competitive market

Thank You!