| Benefiting from International Experience |
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| Wednesday, 24 December 2008 10:44 |
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The EU-UNDP Enhancement of Living Standards
in Fergana region (ELS) project is organizing a study tour to France
for the period 5-25 July 2007.
 The study tour supports the capacity of
two new farmers’ enterprises, which have been established with the
assistance of the ELS project, to become more competitive on the
agricultural local market and provide services to local farmers.The study tour provides an opportunity to
bring together local Uzbek farmers with experienced farmers who
self-manage similar enterprises in France. In addition, it will show
Uzbek farmers the benefit that may accrue from associating with other
farmers to maximize profits from post-harvest crop handling, processing
and storing. The Uzbek farmers will also have a possibility to observe
and test the kind of equipment they intend to purchase through credits
from the credit line provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development.
The study tour facilitates a “farmer to
farmers” type of exchange that has proved to be effective especially if
compared with more traditional types of training that can transfer
technical knowledge and know-how, but cannot substitute to a direct
contact among farmers and do not allow direct comparison of farmers’
initiatives and achievements. The area chosen for the study tour in the
Eastern Pyrenees of France shows similarities with the agro-ecological
conditions in Uzbekistan and the farms size are similar to the ones
owned by the members of the newly created enterprises.
The study tour will also serve as an opportunity for the ELS project team to learn more how Uzbek farmers and fruit growers can link to external markets and/or address present local market bottlenecks. The knowledge and experience gained during the study tour will be fed in the finalization of the regional development strategy in form of recommendations for policy makers and local authorities to support the land privatization process and agricultural small and medium enterprises. Following the study tour the farmers will exchange the acquired knowledge and first-hand experience with local counterparts in Fergana region. |
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The study tour will be instrumental in
ensuring that the members of the two farmers enterprises supported by
the ELS project acquire a better understanding of the role that western
style farmers’ cooperatives can play in ensuring that a greater share
of total profits generated in the agricultural supply chains accrue
directly to the farmers. Based on the lessons learned from the study
tour, it will also be possible to fine-tune complementary training in
Uzbekistan that responds to the needs of the farmers.