Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA928
2009-06-01 10:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE LEADS TO INCREASED
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000928
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, F
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EAGR SOCI KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE LEADS TO INCREASED
PROFITABILITY IN DAIRY SECTOR AND COMMERICAL POSSIBILITES
ASTANA 00000928 001.2 OF 003
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000928
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, F
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EAGR SOCI KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE LEADS TO INCREASED
PROFITABILITY IN DAIRY SECTOR AND COMMERICAL POSSIBILITES
ASTANA 00000928 001.2 OF 003
1. SUMMARY: The Sustainable Dairy Global Development Alliance
(SD-GDA),initiated in 2006 by USAID in cooperation with U.S. and
Kazakhstani based dairy farms and dairy service providers, is a
public-private partnership designed to increase the profitability of
small and medium sized dairy farms. Through the introduction of
rotational grazing methods during the first several months of the
project, dairy farms were able to increase milk production by 20 to
40 percent and reduce feed costs by 70 percent at two pilot farms.
Moreover, farmers were impressed with the techniques and clamored
for vendor information to purchase the U.S.-manufactured equipment.
END SUMMARY.
BACKGROUND
2. Despite economic growth and increased opportunities in natural
resource-rich Kazakhstan since the break-up of the former Soviet
Union, rural households continue to rely heavily on agriculture for
their livelihood. Increasing agricultural productivity and
profitability is therefore essential to the long-term and
sustainable development of the country's rural and predominantly
poorer population. Moreover, as the recent global financial crisis
and its impact on world fuel prices demonstrate, economic
diversification remains an important goal of Kazakhstan and
international development programs. The Central Asia region, like
other parts of the developing world, has also experienced a shortage
of basic food products this past year, further highlighting both the
need for a strong agricultural sector in the region and the strong
demand and need for continued food production.
3. With the break-up of the former Soviet Union, land previously
controlled and managed through collective farms, or kolkhozes, was
distributed among the former members of the kolkhozes. Most of
these small farmers found their plots too small for producing a
profitable crop of grain, and also found too much competition from
China for fruits and vegetables. Some farmers partnered with
neighbors to create larger crops and increase economies of scale,
while others began breeding cattle for meat or harvesting other
crops, such as alfalfa.
4. Farmers also lacked access to agricultural specialists, quality
inputs, and modern equipment. Dairy farmers in particular possessed
only basic agricultural knowledge and were often wary of seeking new
skills and information. Most of Kazakhstan's dairy farms are very
small and are notable for their lack of modern machinery, their
limited access to credit, poor herd nutrition, and very low milk
production. As a result, the milk market in Kazakhstan relied
heavily on imported milk products from neighboring countries.
THE ECONOMIES OF ROTATIONAL GRAZING
5. Research on rotational grazing in the U.S. and other western
countries has shown it to be at least as profitable as conventional
methods of milk production as farmers realize variable cost-savings
in the areas of feed, labor, fuel, and veterinary expenses.
Additionally, over time, the necessary farm infrastructure and
machinery for a rotational grazing operation can be reduced relative
to traditional or barn feeding systems. This can reduce the
investment level required and subsequently reduce the fixed costs of
production as well. This is important for dairy farming in Central
Asia, where productive and profitable dairy farms can be created
with affordable levels of capital investment.
ROTATIONAL GRAZING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
6. Rotational grazing also improves soil quality through reducing
erosion. A permanent vegetative cover reduces erosion relative to
tillage agriculture, since as the vegetative cover increases in
density, less soil is lost by erosion. This improves pasture
productivity and results in increased farm profitability. Moreover,
well-managed dairy pastures contain twice the organic matter of that
of tilled soils used for annual crops. This organic matter, which
is primarily carbon, increases water absorption and moisture
retention. The ability of pasture soils to hold carbon also has
ASTANA 00000928 002.2 OF 003
important benefits for air and water quality. Finally, it is
"green," supporting efforts against global warming.
WATER QUALITY
7. Well-managed grazing is one of the most effective ways to
protect water quality in mainstream agriculture. Well-managed
grazing systems reduce phosphorous and sediment runoff from
agricultural land, including fecal matter, which has the potential
to contaminate drinking water system. Well-managed pastures act as
buffers and serve to protect water quality for the benefit of the
environment and human health.
SUSTAINABLE DAIRY AT WORK: GOT MILK?
8. Rotational grazing requires a relatively small capital
investment by livestock owners and has resulted in significant
increases in milk yields per cow. By demonstrating this innovative
technology to Kazakhstani livestock owners, USAID's implementing
partner, Winrock International, as well as its other partners
(Gallagher Animal Management Systems, Kencove Farm Fence, Fisher and
Thompson, Taurus Service, Taurus Service of Central Asia, Alipov-T
and Kamyshinskoe Farms, the Dairy Union of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
Land Cultivation Research Institute, and the University of Vermont)
sought to enhance small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME)
development in the dairy sector, and increase the incomes of rural
families. Each partner provided critical components for the
development of sustainable dairy production systems, including
pasture management and water systems, milking management, breeding
and reproduction, farm financial management, and technology
transfer. The SD-GDA project also worked with local agribusiness
concerns in order to develop and provide comprehensive packages of
U.S.-manufactured supplies and technical assistance to farmers
interested in adopting rotational grazing and sustainable dairy
systems.
9. The SD-GDA project established demonstration sites on two pilot
farms in Kazakhstan, which serve as powerful examples of the
potential impact that rotational grazing can have on farming
operations. The first, Alipov-T Farm, is a small dairy farm located
40 kilometers east of Almaty. The farm milks 60 cows and harvests
crops on approximately 200 hectares of land. Prior to its
participation in the SD-GDA project, the farm kept all cows, bulls,
and young stock in barns and barnyards, and used its land to produce
corn, oats, barley, wheat, and hay for cattle feed. In spring 2008,
the SD-GDA project helped the farm install a single-wire electrified
fence around sections of the property and instituted a rotational
grazing plan. After just one month, milk production jumped from 12
liters per cow per day to 15 liters per cow per day. The following
month, changes were made to the grain feeding to better complement
the pasture forage. Milk projection increased again to 17 liters
per cow per day. In addition to the 42% increase in milk production
and resulting revenue, the average feed costs for the herd fell by
67 percent, from $3.55 to $1.15 per cow per day.
10. The second farm, Kamyshinskoe Farm, is located 120 kilometers
west of the city of Ust-Kamenagorsk. The farm has 1700 dairy cows,
making it the largest herd of Ayrshire cattle in the world and the
largest dairy farm in Kazakhstan. In the years prior to the SD-GDA
project, some of the dairy cows grazed on hillside pastures.
However, in spring 2008, the SD-GDA project helped fence 120
hectares of land for 300 cows from the dairy herd, and 20 hectares
for the calves. Initially skeptical, farm managers quickly came
around after observing milk production jump from 14.5 to 18 liters
per cow per day. This 24 percent increase in milk output was also
accompanied by a reduction in feed costs of 70 percent. The changes
in grazing also increased the efficiency of farm labor, reducing the
number of herders necessary from six to two and, thus, freeing up
four workers to attend to other duties on the farm. The result has
been an $1100 increase in profit per day.
SPREADING THE WORD, INCREASING IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY
ASTANA 00000928 003.2 OF 003
11. In both August 2008 and in May 2009, the SD-GDA project held
Open Field Days at both farms, attracting more than 200 farmers and
extension service providers from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and
Kazakhstan's South Kazakhstan Karaganda, and Almaty oblasts
interested in learning about rotational grazing and the potential
impact of these techniques on their own farms.
12. A number of other organizations have also seen the value in the
SD-GDA project and have become involved. For example, the Talgar
Agricultural College attended the Field Days and thereafter sent
groups of its students to the Alipov-T Farm to conduct soil
sampling. Other students also assisted in fence construction at the
farm. The Kazakh Meat Company (KMC) saw the value of rotational
grazing methods and plans to use rotational grazing for its large
beef production operation. KMC's owners attended the Field Day at
the Alipov-T Farm and the SD-GDA project's technical advisor will
work with KMC to further develop its plan. Moreover, the Kazakh
Scientific Research Institute for Animal Husbandry and Forage
Production selected Alipov-T Farm as one of the five farms on which
it will conduct a three-year intensive research project on forage
improvement and cattle reproduction for the purpose of training
other farmers.
13. COMMENT: At a time of reduced economic growth in Kazakhstan,
the SD-GDA project has introduced dairy farmers and the agricultural
sector to simple methods that have had significant and lasting
effects on farm profitability. It also opens commercial
possibilities. The farmers present at the field day clamored for
information about purchasing U.S.-produced equipment -- from the
milking machines to the electric fences. While Kazakhstan's economy
will continue to be dominated by its vast mineral resource sectors,
agriculture will remain an important provider for much of the rural
population. END COMMENT.
MILAS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, F
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EAGR SOCI KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE LEADS TO INCREASED
PROFITABILITY IN DAIRY SECTOR AND COMMERICAL POSSIBILITES
ASTANA 00000928 001.2 OF 003
1. SUMMARY: The Sustainable Dairy Global Development Alliance
(SD-GDA),initiated in 2006 by USAID in cooperation with U.S. and
Kazakhstani based dairy farms and dairy service providers, is a
public-private partnership designed to increase the profitability of
small and medium sized dairy farms. Through the introduction of
rotational grazing methods during the first several months of the
project, dairy farms were able to increase milk production by 20 to
40 percent and reduce feed costs by 70 percent at two pilot farms.
Moreover, farmers were impressed with the techniques and clamored
for vendor information to purchase the U.S.-manufactured equipment.
END SUMMARY.
BACKGROUND
2. Despite economic growth and increased opportunities in natural
resource-rich Kazakhstan since the break-up of the former Soviet
Union, rural households continue to rely heavily on agriculture for
their livelihood. Increasing agricultural productivity and
profitability is therefore essential to the long-term and
sustainable development of the country's rural and predominantly
poorer population. Moreover, as the recent global financial crisis
and its impact on world fuel prices demonstrate, economic
diversification remains an important goal of Kazakhstan and
international development programs. The Central Asia region, like
other parts of the developing world, has also experienced a shortage
of basic food products this past year, further highlighting both the
need for a strong agricultural sector in the region and the strong
demand and need for continued food production.
3. With the break-up of the former Soviet Union, land previously
controlled and managed through collective farms, or kolkhozes, was
distributed among the former members of the kolkhozes. Most of
these small farmers found their plots too small for producing a
profitable crop of grain, and also found too much competition from
China for fruits and vegetables. Some farmers partnered with
neighbors to create larger crops and increase economies of scale,
while others began breeding cattle for meat or harvesting other
crops, such as alfalfa.
4. Farmers also lacked access to agricultural specialists, quality
inputs, and modern equipment. Dairy farmers in particular possessed
only basic agricultural knowledge and were often wary of seeking new
skills and information. Most of Kazakhstan's dairy farms are very
small and are notable for their lack of modern machinery, their
limited access to credit, poor herd nutrition, and very low milk
production. As a result, the milk market in Kazakhstan relied
heavily on imported milk products from neighboring countries.
THE ECONOMIES OF ROTATIONAL GRAZING
5. Research on rotational grazing in the U.S. and other western
countries has shown it to be at least as profitable as conventional
methods of milk production as farmers realize variable cost-savings
in the areas of feed, labor, fuel, and veterinary expenses.
Additionally, over time, the necessary farm infrastructure and
machinery for a rotational grazing operation can be reduced relative
to traditional or barn feeding systems. This can reduce the
investment level required and subsequently reduce the fixed costs of
production as well. This is important for dairy farming in Central
Asia, where productive and profitable dairy farms can be created
with affordable levels of capital investment.
ROTATIONAL GRAZING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
6. Rotational grazing also improves soil quality through reducing
erosion. A permanent vegetative cover reduces erosion relative to
tillage agriculture, since as the vegetative cover increases in
density, less soil is lost by erosion. This improves pasture
productivity and results in increased farm profitability. Moreover,
well-managed dairy pastures contain twice the organic matter of that
of tilled soils used for annual crops. This organic matter, which
is primarily carbon, increases water absorption and moisture
retention. The ability of pasture soils to hold carbon also has
ASTANA 00000928 002.2 OF 003
important benefits for air and water quality. Finally, it is
"green," supporting efforts against global warming.
WATER QUALITY
7. Well-managed grazing is one of the most effective ways to
protect water quality in mainstream agriculture. Well-managed
grazing systems reduce phosphorous and sediment runoff from
agricultural land, including fecal matter, which has the potential
to contaminate drinking water system. Well-managed pastures act as
buffers and serve to protect water quality for the benefit of the
environment and human health.
SUSTAINABLE DAIRY AT WORK: GOT MILK?
8. Rotational grazing requires a relatively small capital
investment by livestock owners and has resulted in significant
increases in milk yields per cow. By demonstrating this innovative
technology to Kazakhstani livestock owners, USAID's implementing
partner, Winrock International, as well as its other partners
(Gallagher Animal Management Systems, Kencove Farm Fence, Fisher and
Thompson, Taurus Service, Taurus Service of Central Asia, Alipov-T
and Kamyshinskoe Farms, the Dairy Union of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
Land Cultivation Research Institute, and the University of Vermont)
sought to enhance small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME)
development in the dairy sector, and increase the incomes of rural
families. Each partner provided critical components for the
development of sustainable dairy production systems, including
pasture management and water systems, milking management, breeding
and reproduction, farm financial management, and technology
transfer. The SD-GDA project also worked with local agribusiness
concerns in order to develop and provide comprehensive packages of
U.S.-manufactured supplies and technical assistance to farmers
interested in adopting rotational grazing and sustainable dairy
systems.
9. The SD-GDA project established demonstration sites on two pilot
farms in Kazakhstan, which serve as powerful examples of the
potential impact that rotational grazing can have on farming
operations. The first, Alipov-T Farm, is a small dairy farm located
40 kilometers east of Almaty. The farm milks 60 cows and harvests
crops on approximately 200 hectares of land. Prior to its
participation in the SD-GDA project, the farm kept all cows, bulls,
and young stock in barns and barnyards, and used its land to produce
corn, oats, barley, wheat, and hay for cattle feed. In spring 2008,
the SD-GDA project helped the farm install a single-wire electrified
fence around sections of the property and instituted a rotational
grazing plan. After just one month, milk production jumped from 12
liters per cow per day to 15 liters per cow per day. The following
month, changes were made to the grain feeding to better complement
the pasture forage. Milk projection increased again to 17 liters
per cow per day. In addition to the 42% increase in milk production
and resulting revenue, the average feed costs for the herd fell by
67 percent, from $3.55 to $1.15 per cow per day.
10. The second farm, Kamyshinskoe Farm, is located 120 kilometers
west of the city of Ust-Kamenagorsk. The farm has 1700 dairy cows,
making it the largest herd of Ayrshire cattle in the world and the
largest dairy farm in Kazakhstan. In the years prior to the SD-GDA
project, some of the dairy cows grazed on hillside pastures.
However, in spring 2008, the SD-GDA project helped fence 120
hectares of land for 300 cows from the dairy herd, and 20 hectares
for the calves. Initially skeptical, farm managers quickly came
around after observing milk production jump from 14.5 to 18 liters
per cow per day. This 24 percent increase in milk output was also
accompanied by a reduction in feed costs of 70 percent. The changes
in grazing also increased the efficiency of farm labor, reducing the
number of herders necessary from six to two and, thus, freeing up
four workers to attend to other duties on the farm. The result has
been an $1100 increase in profit per day.
SPREADING THE WORD, INCREASING IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY
ASTANA 00000928 003.2 OF 003
11. In both August 2008 and in May 2009, the SD-GDA project held
Open Field Days at both farms, attracting more than 200 farmers and
extension service providers from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and
Kazakhstan's South Kazakhstan Karaganda, and Almaty oblasts
interested in learning about rotational grazing and the potential
impact of these techniques on their own farms.
12. A number of other organizations have also seen the value in the
SD-GDA project and have become involved. For example, the Talgar
Agricultural College attended the Field Days and thereafter sent
groups of its students to the Alipov-T Farm to conduct soil
sampling. Other students also assisted in fence construction at the
farm. The Kazakh Meat Company (KMC) saw the value of rotational
grazing methods and plans to use rotational grazing for its large
beef production operation. KMC's owners attended the Field Day at
the Alipov-T Farm and the SD-GDA project's technical advisor will
work with KMC to further develop its plan. Moreover, the Kazakh
Scientific Research Institute for Animal Husbandry and Forage
Production selected Alipov-T Farm as one of the five farms on which
it will conduct a three-year intensive research project on forage
improvement and cattle reproduction for the purpose of training
other farmers.
13. COMMENT: At a time of reduced economic growth in Kazakhstan,
the SD-GDA project has introduced dairy farmers and the agricultural
sector to simple methods that have had significant and lasting
effects on farm profitability. It also opens commercial
possibilities. The farmers present at the field day clamored for
information about purchasing U.S.-produced equipment -- from the
milking machines to the electric fences. While Kazakhstan's economy
will continue to be dominated by its vast mineral resource sectors,
agriculture will remain an important provider for much of the rural
population. END COMMENT.
MILAS