 Kosovo
In cooperation with the NGO—Save the Children—IFDC is
working in Kosovo to improve the adoption of new
technologies by producers in the feed grain, milling,
and poultry sub-sector to increase marketed production
of quality feed grains, poultry feed, and eggs. To
achieve this objective, the Kosovo Feed for Poultry
Project (KFPP) is promoting the consistent delivery of
high-quality animal feed ingredients by farmers to
agricultural processors and by agricultural processors
to poultry producers. In so doing, IFDC is providing a
cluster-based model that can be emulated by farmers,
millers, and poultry producers in Kosovo.
Recent accomplishments of the Kosovo project during
2003/04 include:
• The
project assisted local agri-input dealers with the
direct import of new improved high-yielding varieties
of maize (75 tons) and winter wheat seed (1,500 tons)
previously tested by IFDC in Kosovo. Total acreage
planted with the hybrids was approximately 9,100 ha
and more than 3,000 farmers had access to improved
high-yielding seed varieties for the first time.
• The
average maize yield on irrigated land where farmers
followed project recommendations (improved seed
varieties, high-analysis fertilizers and crop
protection products) was 8.8 tons/ha; the highest
yield was 13 tons/ha. This compares with an average
yield of 4.5 tons/ha on irrigated land where farmers
continued to use traditional varieties and practices.
• The
average maize yield on non-irrigated land following
project recommendations was 5.5 tons/ha, compared with
3.5 tons/ha for farmers using traditional practices.
•
Comparisons of the yields from the maize package with
the average yield across Kosovo during 2000-2002
indicate Kosovo could theoretically increase its
yields by 57% on non-irrigated and 151% on irrigated
maize lands simply by adopting the new improved
technology packages and inputs.
•
Soybeans were introduced to Kosovar farmers as a new
commercial crop for use in livestock feed by the feed
millers.
•
Dependence of feed millers on imports of livestock
feed raw materials (maize, soybeans, sunflower) was
reduced by increasing domestic production on local
farms. This translated into an additional US $400,000
in income for the project’s 62 farmer clients.
•
Poultry producers assisted by the project increased
egg production by 200,000 eggs per day. This increased
production had a monetary value of US $8,300/day.
•
Project clients made US $2.1 million of self
investments to expand or improve current business
operations (farms, feed mills and poultry/egg
production facilities).
•
According to Development Associates, Inc., the KFPP
Project increased the usage of fertilizer by 1,500
tons, quality seed by 200 tons, and farm chemicals by
11,000 liters. The increase in input sales also
boosted profits for the suppliers, along with an
increase in additional labor.
|
