NEWS AND VIEWS: International project provides livestock for Ukraine's people (09/22/96)

NEWS AND VIEWS

International project provides livestock for Ukraine's people

by Roman Macuk

Heifer Project International, with its world headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., and headquarters for Eastern European states in Warsaw, was founded in 1944 on a simple belief: when hungry people are given a way to feed themselves, they will not go without food again.

A non-profit organization deeply rooted in the Christian tradition that helps Ukrainian families in Ukraine with not just a lot of words, but with deeds, HPI joins with people of faith everywhere to work for the dignity and well-being of all people.

During the last half century, HPI has provided food and over 20 different varieties of income-producing animals, from llamas and dairy goats to geese and water buffalo, along with training to more than 1 million families in 110 countries to help them become self-reliant. Milk, eggs, wool, draft power and other animal products improve nutrition and supplement income for struggling families everywhere.

As HPI has grown, its approach to hunger has become more holistic, while still holding true to the notion that the way to end hunger is to provide people with a sustainable source of food. HPI's work today reaches into all aspects of life.

Learning new techniques

Training in small farm management gives families and community organizations the hands-on tools to run agricultural micro-enterprises. As these small farms succeed, they bring much-needed income for food, education, health care and other necessities in life.

Change at such a grassroots level is intensive, but the results are lasting. HPI stresses local involvement and decision-making that empowers communities to solve their own problems. Democracy-building begins at the local level, where each group plans and manages its own project. Families receiving animals are required to make environmental improvements on the land. They plant grasses and trees for fodder, and they collect the animal manure to enrich garden soil. Families gain enhanced dignity and self-esteem because they are better able to feed, house, clothe and educate their children. Each family experiences the joy of "passing on the gift" of one or more of its animal offspring to another family in need.

Most importantly, HPI has learned that to make a difference efforts must lead to sustainable development. Its work today equips the next generation to face its challenge successfully.

To help the North American public learn about world hunger and the important role of livestock in sustainable development, HPI's network of volunteers, staff and three learning and livestock centers provide hunger education programs for people all over the continent.

Livestock for Ukraine

What began decades ago as a single shipment of cows has burgeoned into a comprehensive, broad-based plan to help the world's hungry people feed themselves. Yet, even in the midst of tremendous expansion, HPI's mission remains the same: to eradicate world hunger through livestock development. Today one can find almost 300 ongoing projects in 33 countries, including the U.S. and Ukraine. HPI began a small project, No. 27-810A, in Ukraine in 1994 with 50 heads of pregnant Seminal cattle in the country's western regions, in villages of Rychtychi and Hyrivka near the city of Drohobych (Lviv Oblast).

Marta Biec from Drohobych, who heads the project, this writer and his wife, Beverley, who are official volunteer fund-raisers for HPI, all worked hard in 1993 for the project in Ukraine. As a result project No. 27-810A in 1995 grew to 100 heads of pregnant Seminal cattle at a total cost of $175,439. So far not one penny for this project has come from the Ukrainian community.

The figure covers the cost of 100 cows, transportation, sperm, education on impregnating and transferring the embryos, educating people in raising and caring for the cows, training in animal husbandry and sustainable farming, veterinary care and so on, for the duration of the program, which will end in 1997.

There is a great need for quality cattle in Ukraine. Cows in Ukraine give very little milk because they are of poor quality. HPI is ready to help regions in Ukraine other than the west. By helping our people in Ukraine, we will be hastening the process of privatization and helping the agricultural economy of Ukraine. Perhaps Ukraine will once again become a country of plenty, the land of milk and honey, or the breadbasket of Europe. It's hard to believe Ukraine is such a rich country, but its people so poor.

Ukraine cannot rely on the old collective farms because they were never successful. A Zhydachiv county, Lviv Oblast newspaper, New Times (Novyi Chas), carried an article headlined "Majority Already on the Bottom" on January 21, 1995. Included was a table on how much milk a single cow gave on average in 1994 in comparison with 1993, for the whole county: "There is nothing to smile about for our cow breeders. Last year, on average, each cow gave 2,140 kilograms of milk, which is 149 kilograms less than in 1993. Of 24 collective farms only six farms raised their production of milk." (These were former collectives already divided into individually owned parcels.)

The management of the collective farms has been so poor that the number of livestock has fallen drastically. For instance, in 1993 in the entire county there were 31,830 cows, in 1994 there were only 26,665 cows. The year 1995 was not any better, which resulted in a shortage of milk and meat, especially for children and older people. Shortages always push up prices, making a decent meal unaffordable for poor families with children or older people whose retirement income is very low.

HPI delivers to Drohobych

HPI delivers cows to Drohobych county that on average give 30 quarts of milk per day, which adds up to over 9,000 kilograms of milk per year from one cow. According to the Novy Chas article, you would need more than four Ukrainian cows from Zhydavchiv county to make 9,000 kilograms of milk per year. For every dollar donated HPI contributes $1.50. So when you give $1 there will be $2.50 for Ukraine.

One cow last year cost only $750 (a donation you can fully deduct from your income tax), but it is an unbelievable treasure to those in need. Your donation will double in nine months time, because HPI is delivering all cows already pregnant.

A family that receives a cow cannot use 30 quarts of milk per day. It will be able to sell at least 20 quarts per day. At a price of 50 cents per quart, that will give them $10 per day, or $300 per month. Families will not be poor or hungry again. They will have money for other things they need, or to send their daughters or sons to college, where a semester costs $300-$500. Thus, in helping poor families in Ukraine, we are building a strong Ukraine.

Families that receive cows form a group or organization that gets together two to four times a year. They exchange ideas, talk about their difficulties and obtain advice. All of them have but one obligation: to give one or more first-born female offspring 12 to 14 months old for free to other needy or poor families in the neighborhood. So, each year the herd of quality livestock doubles, and more families experience a better life.

Because HPI is a world Christian organization, church leaders and clergy are invited to take an active role in its work. HPI's efforts in Poland, for instance, are guided by an advisory committee that includes members of the Polish Ecumenical Council. Maybe that is the reason that in 1995 in Poland there were four ongoing projects to the tune of $516,721, while for the same period in Ukraine there was only one small project costing $114,035. Furthermore, community and political leaders and their oganizations are invited to join in fundraising dedicated to the purchase of cows for poor families in Ukraine.

All generous and good-hearted Ukrainian people are invited also to send their donations and bring help to our brothers and sisters in other regions of Ukraine.

Please make checks or money orders payable to: Account No. 20518-000 "Cows for Ukraine" and mail to: Self Reliance (NY) Federal Credit Union, 108 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003. Tax-deductible donations may be charged to any major credit card by calling HPI at 1-800-422-0474 and stating: This donation is for Project No. 27-810A "Cows for Ukraine." All donations should have names and addresses of the donor so that a tax-deductible receipt could be sent.

HPI is certified a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, and gifts are fully deductible. HPI was honored with the President's Award for Voluntary Action in 1986 and President's End Hunger Award in 1990. HPI is a member of InterAction and International Service Agencies.

For further information call Roman or Beverley Macuk, (718) 939-1024.

Roman Macuk is a retired mechanical engineer from Flushing, N.Y., who is now a Ukrainian presidential representative for international investment in the counties of Zhydachiv and Halych in Ukraine.