I recently returned from a two week USAID CNFA Farmer to Farmer assistance assignment in Belarus. Unique from most former Soviet Republics in that it has largely retained its authoritarian government, centralized economy, and collective farm system, Belarus can be a challenging environment for entrepreneurial enterprise. Poland, its western neighbor has emerged as a major producer of berry crops for Western Europe. With comparable soils and climate, Belarus could also be a major producer of berry crops in Europe, especially blueberries and cranberries.
North American highbush blueberry culture is well established with more than 200 farms--both state owned and private--currently producing a crop destined for markets in Russia. However, the fledgling industry is constrained by a lack of technical information, specialized inputs, modern processing machinery, investment capital, open markets, and a lack of privately held land. Rick lectured on topics pertaining to blueberry production at Poliss State University in Pinsk and offered consultation to a variety of farmers across southern and central Belarus. People were warm and welcoming at the farms visited, "hungry" for the contact from "outside", and appreciative of the information that was presented.
North American highbush blueberry culture is well established with more than 200 farms--both state owned and private--currently producing a crop destined for markets in Russia. However, the fledgling industry is constrained by a lack of technical information, specialized inputs, modern processing machinery, investment capital, open markets, and a lack of privately held land. Rick lectured on topics pertaining to blueberry production at Poliss State University in Pinsk and offered consultation to a variety of farmers across southern and central Belarus. People were warm and welcoming at the farms visited, "hungry" for the contact from "outside", and appreciative of the information that was presented.
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