Today, June 28, 2018, USAID’s Business Ecosystem Project (BEP), together with Macedonian firms Zdravje Radovo, Sano, Ekoshar and Marancho, launched an initiative to help dairy farmers in Pelagonia modernize their milk production by co-investing in modern farming equipment and regional tranings that will be put to use on multiple dairy farms in the Pelagonia region to increase milk quality and yeilds. The new technology and know-how will make the region’s dairy farmers more competitive, enabling them to increase revenue and employment.

BEP Chief of Party Mirjana Makedonska highlihted the importance of agribusinesses investing in the development of their supply chains, saying “Donor and public sources of funding are important for Macedona’s economic development, but true self-reliance can only be achieved on the foudnation of a strong private sector. The companies that decide to co-invest with USAID in the modernization of dairy farming do so because they consider it good business sense. By investing in the farms in their supply chains, they are opening up expansion opportunities for their own businesses,” she said.

The Inputs Supervisor of Zdravje Radovo Nikola Ivanovski, the Sales Manager of Sano Aleksandar Hristovski, the Mayor of Mogila Jasmina Gulevska, and a representative from the local action group Agro Lider Marina Tosheska, spoke to reporters about the importance of investing in supply-chains to meet international standards and be competitive.

The project has procured a round hay baler, a TMR fodder mixer and a hoof trimming chute (co-financed with Sano, Ekoshar and Marancho), and lactofreezers for 30 farmers (co-financed with Zdravje Radovo). Some of these pieces of equipment will be made available for use on up to fifty farms in Pelagonia. The farmers involved in this initiative will receive training on dairy farm hygine, animal health and welfare, dairy cow genetics, and other topics related to increasing dairy farm productivity.

BEP is seeks to increase productivity, revenues, and jobs for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), by working with business associations, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, training centers, and firms seeking to develop their value chains, and other organizations that provide business support services. The activity launched today is designed to demonstrate the link between investing in supply chain development and increased revenue and employment generation, thereby planting the seeds for such investments in the future without USAID assistance and facilitation. All companies interested in participating in the project are encouraged to email BEP at dejan.janevski@thepalladiumgroup.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The American people, through USAID, have invested more than $640 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is working with the people of Macedonia to create jobs, strengthen democratic institutions and practices, enhance integrated education, and prepare students for the workforce. These initiatives, in partnership with the people of Macedonia, aim to improve the quality of life for all living in Macedonia. USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. For more information please visit http://macedonia.usaid.gov and USAID’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/USAIDMacedonia.