Accomplishments, Ukraine. In the Second Annual Work Plan (refer to Annex B of that document), World Lab committed itself to establish a model livestock market in one of the Ukrainian oblasts. A model livestock market would be a key solution to a series of problems, including information support, transparency of operations, payment on the basis of real prices, good selection of commodities, better control of livestock quality, etc. To date, Project economists have conducted analyses of existing mechanisms of cattle markets and of current schemes of livestock procurement in the meat industry in Volhyn, Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts. Selected statistical data and conclusions follow.
Table 1. Average live weight per head of livestock purchased by processing entities in Ukraine Year From Agrarian Enterprises Household Plot Owners Cattle Swine Cattle Swine 1990 000 000 000 157 2000 311 91 328 116 2001 346 117 350 133 Distribution channel Amount sold (tons) Percentage in total amount Total 665,800 100.000 Procurement entities to the processing plants 201,600 30.300 Public catering system 145,300 21.800 Farmer markets 180,100 27.100 Other channels, exports 138,800 20.800 Commodity exchange and auctions 25 0.004 As a result of its analyses, World Lab concluded that livestock supply is still a weak point for meat processing operations. The agrarian market infrastructure is under-developed in that livestock producers remain attached to local processors and agree on any terms and conditions they impose. The producers are rarely aware of alternative buyers and are reluctant to seek those alternatives and risk established relationships. The new schemes of livestock procurement that have been designed are rarely within the official economy. Today a new concept promoting efficient and accessible distribution, is required and one of the possible ways to achieve this could be a Model Livestock Market development.
Accomplishments, Ukraine. World Lab established objectives and tasks of an information support system. Using experience of previous projects, World Lab specialists developed a database structure to provide information services that would solve the most urgent problems of processing industries. Databases have been partially filled out, including those for the poultry and meat sub-systems. At the time of writing, the databases contain the following information: • A sorted list of potential clientele with contact information – 275 poultry enterprises (including those in production, marketing, processing and associations) and 162 meat enterprises of sector (sixty-seven production and ninety-five processing); • Information on raw materials and processed products for the meat sector (341 items categorized among four types) and for the poultry sector (fifteen product items among ten types); • List of thirty-one poultry breeding crosses and sixty-two poultry pure breeds, with photos and brief descriptions; • Annual monthly schedules for 2002 of eighteen breeding hatcheries and chicks (one- day and 120-days), with reference to poultry type, cross or breed; • Lists of standards and specifications in force for meat and poultry products, grouped by product type; • Stock list of 347 logistical resources and sixteen containers and packaging materials (available for purchasing in Ukrptakhoprom, the Ukrainian Association of Poultry Producers), grouped by equipment functions, with reference to price and country of origin; • List of protein-vitamin additives, premixes and formula feeds offered for sale for poultry; • Offers of incubated eggs, chicks, table eggs and poultry meat; • Information on innovations in poultry industry, grouped by topics; • List of swine breeds released in Ukraine, with photos; • List of meat-type cattle breeds, with photos; and • Information from the Ukrainian Association of Meat Producers (Ukrmiasso) on equipment for meat processing industry available at a Ukrainian engineering plant, with reference to functions, production capacity, prices and contact information. A user-friendly meat and poultry sub-system database interface is being developed in Visual Basic (containing 732 KB of codes). Through the Internet, the interface will allow a user to select information to be used, using the following criteria: oblasts, groups of enterprises, types of products or equipment, etc. Furthermore, a web-portal development team was established, including web-design specialists, networ...
Accomplishments, Ukraine. The development of model associations of seafood producers in the Southern region of Ukraine has significantly outgrown originally planned results. At the first stage of this Project Activity, the work focused on establishment of a model association uniting seafood processors and small private owners of fish-catching fleet of the Azov Sea Basin. World Lab held a series of meetings of potential members, involving experts from State Department of Fish Industry to explain the goals of the Asov Sea Basin Association. In addition, an organizational committee was established and by-laws were developed. The Association was registered as a union of twelve enterprises as members and four enterprises as candidates. The establishment of this association has proved to be very timely. While the “shadow” fish sector is flourishing in Ukraine, such an association allows for establishing public control over the utilization of Azov Sea’s bio-resources and regulating human environmental impact. World Lab negotiated with the State Department of Fish Industry to allot specific catching areas for the Association so that it would be responsible for limiting catch volumes, for reproduction and for combating poaching within those specific areas. It also regulates relations between catchers and local authorities, sanitation and environmental control agencies, and custom officers. The association also establishes direct relations between harvesters and processors, extends their mutual understanding and collaboration and reduces time of delivery to the final consumer. This supports the development of the market economy and reduces its transition period. Most importantly, it convinces people that the market economy does not necessarily have to be brutal or callous but that it can be beneficial to individual households. A similar association, called the “Black Sea Basin Association”, was established in Kherson Oblast. The initial stage was to establish an Organizational Committee; a meeting of founders was held, by-laws were developed, and negotiations with local authorities were conducted. The attractiveness of such associations has led World Lab to promote a model fish industry association in the Middle Region of Ukraine. Formal establishment of this Association is almost completed but its activities have not yet started.
Accomplishments, Ukraine. To achieve Year 3 objectives for the provision and broad-based Information Support System (ISS) for industry clientele, several actions were taken. For example, a poultry information sub- system was placed on the Ministry of Agrarian Policy’s website (xxx.xxxxxx.xxx.xx). At the Poultry Quality Round Table Discussion mentioned on Page 21 (and sponsored in part by PFID), the poultry sub-system was demonstrated to participants. A fish data bank and accompanying interface were developed, which included contact information and description of 456 fish enterprises grouped into several categories: processors, harvesters, fish-farmers, trade associations, ports and traders. The data bank also included a list of standards and specifications and a list of fish products. The latter includes 1,703 items of thirteen product types and is organized into a database to make it easier for enterprises to register products into the database, add new information and promote their products. The International Institute for Food Safety and Quality’s (IIFSQ’s) web page is placed on the World Lab web-site (xxx.xxxxxx.xxx). The page includes: • General HACCP information – HACCP principles and history, administrative issues, terms and definitions; • General IIFSQ information – History, prospects, activities and membership requirements; • IIFSQ services – Training and HACCP plan development, application for services and a directory of HACCP trainers (refer to picture below on left); • IIFSQ materials – HACCP manuals and articles; • Food safety legislation – Texts of twelve laws, orders and guidelines; • Current and recent events – including activity schedules (refer to picture below on right). Interactive application form for IIFSQ/HACCP services IIFSQ/HACCP Current Activities A cold chain web page is included in the World Lab web site (xxx.xxxxxx.xxx, refer to Page 13).
Accomplishments, Ukraine. To increase effectiveness of the Union of Associations “Ukraine-Refrigeration” six Regional Information and Advisory Centers (IACs) were established, covering almost all of Ukraine. Among IAC major activities are information support and provision of consultations in cold chain, expert reviews of draft designs and technical evaluations, professional training, legal services, etc. With PFID assistance, office premises have been found and IAC heads have been selected. PFID also contributed to identifying the needs of each specific region (deriving from commodity specialization, such as seafood in the coastal regions) and how the corresponding IACs would address those needs. In Berdiansk (Eastern IAC), a seminar on IAC organizations was conducted; Eastern IAC management shared their experience with representatives of other regional centers. Preparation of a Directory of technical instructions for refrigeration, freezing, thawing and storage of meat, poultry and seafood was completed. The Directory is available at World Lab’s website (xxx.xxxxxx.xxx) and will be disseminated in hard copy among participants at a seminar to be conducted in September 2003 by Union of Associations “Ukraine-Refrigeration” (UAUR) with participation of WFLO specialists. World Lab and UAUR also conducted a seminar in July entitled “Efficiency Improvement of Refrigeration Enterprises”. Xx. Xxxxxx Neel, a WFLO-affiliated specialist, attended the seminar from WFLO; full information will be available in the next SAR. Together with the Ukrainian Branch of International Academy of Refrigeration’s Press Center, materials have been prepared for the Digest of CIS Publication’s first quarterly issue, “Refrigeration and Application”, which includes the following sections: market analysis, technical audit, advice, “At Laboratories and Research Centers”, new equipment, people and events and “Meet the Firm”. An electronic version of the manual “Utilization of Refrigeration in Fish Industry” (200 pages) also was prepared. The following additional materials of WFLO library were translated: • Warehouse design and construction; • Power utilization; • Sales and marketing strategies; • Freezing basics; • Food preservation – product, process, packaging; • Minimization of power costs; and • Crisis management.
