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

Development Associates, Inc.capacity for processing soybean and sunflower for feed; assisted in bulk procurement of raw feedgrains, maize and soybeans along with feed vitamins and additives not produced in Kosovo;provided technical inputs to improve milling systems with seminars and providingdemonstrations of milling improvements on “mill days” with the assistance of KBS Agribusinesscomponent. The team established quality control on cluster mills and poultry producers basedon standards for quality, packaging, labeling along with monitoring of standards in conjunctionwith KBS. They worked with KBS Agribusiness Component in providing technical input toimprove poultry farming systems that included breeding, hatching and laying technologyseminars. Worked with KBS on survey of marketing outlets/opportunities for poultry productsand the conclusion of contracts between poultry farmers and product distributors.The three activities listed above were properly targeted to achieve the objectives.THE MAIN STRENGTHS IN THIS PROJECT ARESuccess with input suppliers in obtaining high quality seed, fertilizer and chemical inputsfor crop production.Capacity to assist in the procurement of feed ingredients for the millers.Technology transfer activities with farmers that increased production of good qualitymaize, sunflower and soybeans.Increased the income of farmers who used the improved technology.Introduction of input suppliers as farmer trainers for agronomic practices, particularlyplanting techniques, fertilization, and disease control.Major strength was ability to upgrade existing feed-mill operations and increase thevolume of quality feed available to egg producers the quantities are changing monthlyand the project staff is monitoring and reporting the increases.Forward contracting between feed mills and poultry producers is important method ofmaking the system functional. These need to be firm contracts so that the crop producerscan invest in inputs with clear knowledge he will have a reasonable return.THE MAIN WEAKNESS IN THIS PROJECT AREEven when fully supplied, the Kosovo egg market is relatively small.Appropriate post-harvest handling and processing of Kosovo-produced feed grains,soybeans, sunflower and maize has not yet been sorted out.The growers generally do not have the confidence to commit to new crops without theguaranteed contracts and financing for the required inputs.The cost of importing quality seed, feed ingredients (minerals, vitamins, antibiotics)soybean meal, sunflower meal and maize made feed costs some of the highest in theregion.Lack of funding to support more demonstration plots to promote sunflower, soybeans andother feed grains. The plots used so far have been successful in convincing farmers thatfeed grains can achieve high yields and solid profits. More demonstrations are needed inother areas of the country.Lack of project funding to promote the use of feed concentrates in poultry feeding rations(dairy, sheep, and beef) to prove their efficacy is also a serious drawback to the project atthis time.Evaluation of the USAID/Kosovo SME 94 May 2004and Agriculture/Agribusiness ProgramsVolume I