Farming for the Future

Project Title: Farming for the Future       Date of Project: Start 23 March Specific need that the project will address: Bringing the expertise and knowledge of the Dutch way of farming to Belarus. The farmers in Belarus are not in the posses of high quality seeds and the knowledge and appliances to farm in the right way and create a high profit. In this way the farmers will have the change to become financial independent and will become able to take care of their own living and maintain themselves and their families. In the end it will stimulate and improve the entire agriculture of Belarus. Target audience: The entire agriculture of Belarus. The group which will be most focused on are small and medium farmers. Learning objectives to be achieved by the participants: The target group will receive knowledge, information and appliances. They are helped to make contact with new Dutch suppliers. The knowledge they receive will exist of knowledge about how to farm in a right with to create a high profit by bringing up a large and well qualified harvest. Project description/overview: Setting up a service/information center in Belarus to bring knowledge and expertise to farmers about the Dutch way of farming and Dutch suppliers of high quality seeds and goods. With the help of the center, the farmers will learn how the bring up a high harvest with a good profit to maintain themselves. In the end it will become the service/information/trade center of Dutch agriculture in Belarus. Project partners: The project will be founded by three market economical students in cooperation with a foundation who is active in Belarus for more then 15 years now. Measurability (pre/post tests): The project is parted in three steps, spread over three years. The first step is to select the participants in Belarus who will join the project and the approaching of Dutch suppliers to convince them to invest in this project. This will take place in the first year (this year). In the next year the center will be founded, decorated and the first Dutch seeds will grow to be an example for interested farmers. In the two years after that the center will be expanded with more land to be produce their own goods and will also become the function of production- and trade center. In that way the center is able to maintain itself. Total students involved: 3 Total hours of student involvement: 30 hours per student per week Judging Criteria:   The project is operating on a market-based economy for as far that is existing in Belarus. The project fits with the kind of market which is normal in Belarus. The need of this market will be fulfilled by this project. The knowledge of business ethics to start up this project is present. In three years the center has expend so it can also be an trade/production center. It this way it will produce and sell to maintain the centre which will take care of the sustainability. People Impacted: In the first year it will reach the near environment of the location of the center. After three years it will reach all the small and medium farmers in Belarus.