CANADA TO HELP MODERNIZE UKRAINIAN FARM INDUSTRY

Released on January 28, 1999

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will support a

project to assist Ukrainian farmers to modernize their beef and feed

production, making their farms more viable. The project is being

implemented in partnership with the governments of Saskatchewan and

Manitoba. The Honourable Diane Marleau, Minister for International

Cooperation and Minister responsible for La Francophonie made this

announcement with Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow, Manitoba Minister

of Agriculture, Harry J. Enns and the charge d'affaires from the

Ukraine Embassy, Mr. Sergiy Borovyk, during an International

Development Week event.



"Sharing Canadian agricultural expertise in Ukraine will help the farm

industry to adapt and be viable in the emerging economy," said Madame

Marleau. "By working together, both Ukrainians and Canadians will

learn from each other and build lasting links and cooperation between

our two countries."



"The agricultural sector is vitally important in Ukraine, Saskatchewan

and Manitoba," said Premier Romanow. "Today's partnership gives us the

opportunity to exchange our best agricultural practices and it opens

important markets to our producers and manufacturers."



"This project will help open up opportunities for Manitoba and

Saskatchewan companies by showcasing our forage and beef sectors

as well as forage production equipment before a potential market

of 52 million people," said Minister Enns.



Canadian experts from Manitoba and Saskatchewan will go to

Ukraine to train 225 agricultural specialists. These specialists

will then train individual beef farmers in a mix of Canadian and

Ukrainian best-practices in beef cattle and feed production. For

example, the Ukrainian farmers will learn how to increase beef

production by integrating Canadian beef genetics with good

quality local genetics. They will also be introduced to

grasslands development and conservation techniques such as

rotation of pasture. In addition, legislators from Saskatchewan

and Manitoba will assist in improving the Ukrainian beef

marketing regulations to create a more favourable environment for

profitable, market-oriented agricultural enterprises.



The Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), CIDA's

partner, is a non-profit industry-government partnership that

promotes Saskatchewan exporters. STEP has been working in

Ukraine over the past five years and has a good knowledge of the

agricultural industry in that country, will manage the project.



"I am very pleased to be here today to witness the signing of

this major agricultural partnership among Canada, Saskatchewan,

Manitoba and Ukraine," said Mr. Borovyk.



In addition to CIDA's contribution of approximately $2.4 million

over the next four years, the governments of Manitoba and

Saskatchewan will make in-kind contributions of agricultural and

legislative expertise.



Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1998

federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal

framework.



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For more information, contact:



Chantal Reinert

Office of the Minister for International Cooperation and

Minister responsible for La Francophonie

Telephone: (819) 997-6919



Media Relations Office

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

Telephone: (819) 953-6534

E-Mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca



Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)

Murad Al-Katib

Telephone: (306) 787-2194

E-mail: malkatib@sasktrade.sk.ca



Anna Arneson

Media Services

Government of Saskatchewan

Telephone: (306) 787-0850



Wayne Digby

Manitoba Agriculture

Government of Manitoba

Telephone: (204) 726-6410