Farmers in Ukraine admire their Canadian counterparts for “having
golden hands,” says a Hafford, Sask., farm woman who has visited there
twice.
Marie Prebushewski plans to go again in September to show Ukrainians
how to gild themselves by developing skills and independence.
“They’re so used to being told how to do things, when to plant, when to
sell,” she said.
Her background is French, but Prebushewski and her husband are members
of Prairie Grassroots Vision International, a group of Saskatchewan
Read Also
Food can play a flavourful role in fun summer activities
Recipes – popsicles are made with lactose-free milk and yogurt so are perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk, while everyoneelse will also enjoy them
people who are interested in helping Ukraine because of their family
roots.
Since the former Soviet republic declared political independence in
1991, the system of collective farms has fallen apart and rural poverty
is rampant. Workers on those farms no longer receive guidance and
subsidies from government, and their managers either left or set up
their own farms. Workers were used to doing only “their job” of
welding, mechanics or milking, and had no desire to learn other skills.
“If the barns need cleaning, then put on your coveralls and go help, is
the Saskatchewan attitude, not Ukraine’s,” Prebushewski said.
Last fall the Prebushewskis and two others went to Ukraine to determine
how they could help. They visited again in April and are heading there
in another month using their own money plus donations.
It is slow work trying to convince the farmers how they can come
together to help each other, she said. The Ukrainians are having
trouble distinguishing between their old collective style and the
co-operative model that their Saskatchewan visitors are recommending.
The basic difference is that co-ops have elections and use democratic
control to ensure all members benefit.
Problems are not only based on the need to change attitudes and take on
responsibility. There are also agronomic and marketing challenges.
Prebushewski said Ukranian farmers plow the land up to eight times
before planting, which has caused the top layer to harden. They gather
straw from harvested crops into piles and burn it in the spring, rather
than turning it into the soil. Horse-pulled plows are common because
machinery is scarce, run down and expensive. Farmers barter their crops
rather than using cash, and have not tried to add value by processing
the basic product.
“You could have 10 pages listing how to farm, but they need to see the
tangible results,” Prebushewski said in explaining why return visits
are planned.
The Canadian group is focusing on a region in western Ukraine and using
as a model one particular farm where 400 people live. She said the farm
has already benefitted from this contact. The Canadians told them to
negotiate with the company putting in natural gas lines. The farm
manager did and paid half the price other customers had. The Canadians
hope that as this farm succeeds, it will share its information and
procedures.
One unique problem is that the government gave each farm worker a plot
of land from the former collective estate. These plots average eight
acres, which isn’t enough to buy machinery or get crop volumes. The
Canadians are advising the little farmers to form machinery and
marketing co-ops to gain strength in unity.
Another problem with small land holdings is that people either do
nothing with their land or rent it to others who may sublease it
without the owner’s knowledge. Some individuals are building farming
empires from many leased lots and enriching themselves at the expense
of others who have less skill or inclination to farm.
“Retention and stewardship of the land is the issue,” said
Prebushewski, who noted widows are especially susceptible to
unscrupulous people.
She said it is ironic that as they teach Ukrainians how to farm
co-operatively, the opposite is happening in Canada, where the Canadian
Wheat Board and supply managed sectors are under attack.
There are several machinery co-ops on the Prairies and at least one
co-op farm that started in 1946 in southwestern Saskatchewan. The co-op
sold its holdings to the land bank and now calls itself the Matador
Farming Pool. The eight members cultivate 8,000 acres, have 6,000 in
pasture, two seed cleaners and 232 cattle in a community pasture.
Members share machinery and the workload.
Pool president Leonard Howes said labour costs and availability are one
advantage. Another is the economic benefits of working such a large
area of land.
Howes said if farmers feel squeezed financially, they might want to
consider farming co-operatively.
“It’s been viable for us.”
Walter Podiluk, president of Prairie Grassroots Vision International,
can be reached at 306-242-2456.
