Evaluation of the USAID-Kosovo SME and Agriculture - Economic ...

Development Associates, Inc.IFDC-KOSOVO FEED FOR POULTRY PROJECT (KFPP)BACKGROUNDThe estimated national demand for eggs is approximately 1.6 million per day of which Kosovoproducers currently supply somewhere between an estimated 25 to 45%, depending on theseason. The balance is imported from neighboring countries and this amount represents amarketing target for Kosovo egg and feed producers. Imported feed ingredients are expensiveand there is a shortage of locally produced feed of acceptable quality. Production facilities andtechnologies are in need of improvement for the egg producers to be competitive.The Feed-for-Poultry Project (KFPP) is implemented by the International Center for SoilFertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC), a sub-grantee of the Save-the-Children umbrellagrant from USAID. KFPP is one component of the Small Farm Support (SFS) initiative toincrease agricultural production and income. IFDC has been working with Kosovo’s livestockfeed millers and poultry producers since 1999 and has an experienced and technically qualifiedstaff. The purpose of KFPP is to develop an integrated value chain that will increase maize andoilseed production by establishing backward and forward linkages between farmers, feed millers,oilseed processors and egg producers. IFDC/KFPP strategy is threefold: 1) to transfer improvedproduction technologies to maize, soybean and sunflower farmers through field demonstrations,advisory services and training programs and, 2) to assist feed millers in formulating increasedquantities and higher quality poultry feeds that can, with some modification, be used by bothlayer and broiler producers. 3) to assist poultry producers to increase the number and quality ofeggs at competitive prices. The program is for 20 months, beginning February 2003 andconcluding in September 2004. It is focused on five production regions in Kosovo: Pejë,Gjakovë, Lipjan, Ferizaj, and Gjilan.The current poultry numbers according to IFDC are:Table 1.1 Current Number of Birds in ThousandsLayersPullets2003 2002 Difference 2003 2002 Difference650,000 410,000 + 240,000 36,000 11,500 +24,500Table 1.2 Total Number of Pullets2003 2002 Difference390,000 150,000 + 240,000Table 1.3 Egg Production per Day2003 2002 Difference541,112 341,325 + 199,787OBJECTIVESincrease use of improved technologies by feed-mills and egg producers,increase the adoption of high producing poultry breeds, andincrease the use of high quality ingredients in poultry feed mixes.Evaluation of the USAID/Kosovo SME 92 May 2004and Agriculture/Agribusiness ProgramsVolume I