Facility for Agricultural Reform and Modernization (FARM) Program

Jack was a member of the technical advisory committee of the FARM project from Feb 03 to March 05 - the initial 2 years of the program. During that time he chaired the committee from March 04 to March 05.

In this technical advisory role Jack was a key player in designing the extension service in 4 oblasts (provinces) in Ukraine and in evaluating the individual applications for funding from the program.

In addition to the in-Canada work this program also offered the opportunity for two trips to Ukraine (Oct 03 & Aug 04) for on the ground reconnaissance, planning and extension development as well as training of Ukrainian program staff.

FARM Program Purpose:

The Facility for Agriculture Reform and Modernization (FARM) Program was designed to ensure a sustainable approach to agricultural development in the emerging market economy of Ukraine.
This program will leave behind increased capacity in key institutions of the government while assisting in creating new non-government institutions to aid in the reform process. The FARM Program is strategic, positioning Canada as a leader in assisting in meaningful transition in the agricultural sector in Ukraine.


FARM Program participant information:

The FARM Program is a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) sponsored that is managed by the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) in cooperation with the Provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan.

Quick Facts and Figures about the FARM Program

• The joint Canada-Ukraine Program was launched in March, 2003 with the objective to support the reforms of Ukraine agricultural sector and facilitate trade and investment links between Canada and Ukraine. 
   
• This large-scale 5-year initiative is the biggest and the most comprehensive agricultural project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency in Ukraine. 
   
• 3 Canadian Provinces - Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan – are Program partners in Canada; in Ukraine the partner organizations are the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the National Agricultural University and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. 
   
• The FARM Program is supporting agricultural reform in Ukraine in the areas of civil society development, institutional capacity building and agricultural extension development. 
   
• In the first 15 months of the Program 4 agricultural extension services were opened in Volyn, Rivne, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts. These oblast Extension Services are now working with district partners in developing District Extension Services.
   
• To ensure that the services and information provided by the Agricultural Extension Services meet producers’ needs Baseline Studies were conducted in each of the 4 Oblasts.
   
• Through the FARM grant fund (Responsive Mechanism), funding has been approved for 14 projects in the approximate amount of $547,000.00 CDN. Currently 7 of these projects have been successfully completed. Another 8 selected concept papers are at different stages of the approval process. The total number of applications received in the first 2 years is 93.

Extension Services

FARM provides regional support to agricultural producers from offices in the Oblast capital cities of Volyn, Rivne, Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy. In each office, five highly-trained and qualified specialists offer assistance to producers from across the Oblast through farm demonstrations, one-on-one consultations, seminars, workshops and other learning events. These offices also remain up-to-date with changes in legislation and policy and disseminate this information to those affected in rural communities.

Training of these specialists under the FARM Program has been leading edge and extensive – blending Canadian best practices within the Ukrainian framework. This ensures each specialist is equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide the best and most appropriate advice to producers within their jurisdictions.

The extension service offices are all co-located within either an agriculture academic institution or Oblast Main Department of Agriculture and Food. In early 2006, with the addition of pilot district extension offices, the level of support to producers will increase significantly.


Interesting Links

FARM Program Site

Ukraine agriculture Info

Ukraine AG & Food Profile