FARM Supports Ukrainian Agriculture

By Roman Tashleetsky

The joint Canada-Ukraine FARM (Facility for Agricultural Reform and Modernization) Project was launched in March 2003 to support the reform of Ukraine’s agricultural sector and facilitate trade and investment links between Canada and Ukraine. This large-scale 5-year initiative is the most comprehensive agricultural project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in Ukraine.

The Program is managed by Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP). FARM’s Canadian partners include the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Ukrainian partners are: the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences, National Agricultural University of Ukraine, Rivne, Sumy, Volyn and Dnipropetrovsk oblast administrations. 

When the program was being designed, the Ukrainian government, wanting to reduce poverty in rural communities and get the agricultural sector back on its feet, was considering a law that would provide the necessary state funding.  Assistance in developing the necessary infrastructure was needed and FARM stepped in to provide this support.

FARM is divided into two parts: the Extension Component and Grant Fund. The first provides technical assistance and support in Rivne, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy. In each of these oblasts, there are centres that work with agricultural research and educational institutions, producer associations and rural communities. They are equipped with facilities and staffed by specialists in various aspects of the agricultural industry.  The Grant Fund supports individual projects initiated by organizations in Ukraine and Canada that contribute to achieving FARM’s objectives in Ukraine. Thus far, just over a million dollars has been invested in 22 projects. Ten projects have been successfully completed; another 3 are at different stages of the approval process.

The head of Volyn Extension Component, Natalia Kozak, says that FARM is necessary and beneficial: “In just 6 months of this year, 2,935 agricultural manufacturers approached the service for consultations; we conducted 27 educational seminars in which a total of 1,146 people participated. The experience of Canada, a country with an extremely developed agriculture and well built-up civil society is invaluable for us,” she says.

There are more than 50 agricultural specialists or “extension agents” participating in the program who offer farmers free consultations. FARM has assisted over 9,759 farmers and agricultural workers in Ukraine through trainings, seminars, workshops.  They have been learning better farming practices and, as a result, are now using new techniques. Rural women have been exposed to new opportunities and training.

In addition, the program has helped to develop ties between Canada and Ukraine. These connections should help Canadian companies to win future contracts and further sales to Ukraine as the country’s agricultural economy develops.

In its first three years, FARM has also increased awareness in agricultural communities of the legal rights and responsibilities of citizens and governments, and built confidence in citizens’ abilities to influence government policy.  Rural communities in selected areas are receiving advice on issues such as the development of cooperatives, youth programs, gender equality and community development approaches. In addition, producers empowered (through increased profitability, etc.) directly and via their organizations and institutions are being encouraged to play a more meaningful role in the development of the agricultural sector. The program has also increased the capacity of existing agricultural institutions to deliver training, technology and services.

FARM’s competent staff both in Canada and Ukraine is one of the its strengths says Angela Wojcichowsky, FARM’s international project coordinator, while Ukraine’s political climate is a weakness, for it places limitations on the project. “Political instability in Ukraine after the March elections has slowed the activities of the national government. An Extension Law has been passed, but has yet to be implemented. Implementation of the law may be slow and/or unresponsive to the needs of the extension system. In addition, this law is not a current priority of the Ukrainian government of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy. This may change, however, once greater stability is found within the national government,” she says.

Despite the instability at the national level, there is some consistency and stability in the oblast and district governments, which are key stakeholders. At the local level, the reach of the program is being expanded. Pilot district offices are being established with the hope that the number of these offices will grow.

Though much has been achieved, a key concern is that the services and system developed through FARM continue to be available after the program ends in February 2008.

 “While the government is too slow to implement the state program to support extension services, we are looking at alternative financing,” says Maksym Maksymov, director of the Dnipropetrovsk FARM centre.

“We are close to completing a plan of self-financing, again thanks to the support of FARM and Canadian specialists," he adds. “Hopefully, owing to our mutual efforts we will be able to continue to offer these services after the FARM funding ends.”

Roman Tashleetsky is a Ukrainian graduate student at the Taras Shevchenko National University, Kyiv.