“On-farm-protein-supply For Agricultural Enterprises In Russia Outside Soya Growing Areas”
Project Description

Institutions involved

• Swiss College of Agriculture (SCA), University of Applied Sciences, Zollikofen, Switzerland
• Russian State Research Center – all Russia Research Institute of Legumes and Groat Crops, Orel, Russia (Institute Orel)
• Swisscontact, Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation, Zürich, Switzerland (on behalf of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)).

1. Initial situation, Phase 2 of the project
The first phase of the project from 2001-2002 was successful and promising. In the spring of 2003 the second phase could be started.

2. Main activities
2.1             Continuation of the field trials with protein peas and work on open technical questions in the
             cultivation
2.2             Revision and final completion of the technical documentation for the cultivation of protein peas
            and millet
2.3             Construction and use of specific devices for the drying process of the harvest
2.4             Further suggestions on the improvement of feeding in the wintertime
2.5            Introduction of Russian pea varieties to the official variety trials of the Research Institutes in
             Switzerland
2.6             Continuation and development of the existing contacts and knowledge transfer
2.7             Cultivation of Russian millet varieties in Switzerland

3. Results
3.1 Continuation of the field trials with protein peas and work on open technical questions in the cultivation
Further experiences could be made. Results from the first project phase could be confirmed. The pea leaf weevil (Sitona lineatus) beetle as an important parasite represents an unsolved problem.

3.2             Revision and final completion of the technical documentation for the cultivation of
protein peas and millet
A leaflet about the cultivation of protein peas and one about the cultivation of millet were made and can now be given to interested farmers.

3.3             Construction and use of specific devices for the drying process of the harvest
A prototype of a simple drying equipment was designed and tested in practice. After the positive test results a small series of 5 devices was produced and sold to farmers. Thus the problem of the drying process of the harvest can be solved and the company manufacturing the devices has additional work and additional income.

3.4             Further suggestions on the improvement of feeding in the wintertime
The trials with different grass-clover mixtures in Kaluga could not be continued because the farm was sold. A delegation from the Ukraine visited the farm in Kaluga.

3.5             Introduction of Russian pea varieties to the official variety trials of the Research
             Institutes in Switzerland
Three Russian pea varieties were tested another year in the official variety trials of the research institutes Zurich-Reckenholz and Changins. The Russian varieties did not exactly achieve the same yields as the best West European varieties. Nevertheless, this result is important for the Institute in Orel.

3.6            Continuation and development of the existing contacts and knowledge transfer

Development of the contacts to Russia
The goal for the second phase of the project, to collaborate with a further Russian-Research-Institute, was not achieved.

Interchange of know-how East-West
Together with Clay Humphrys, from the research institute Zurich-Reckenholz, I visited the Russian farms involved and the Institute Orel in the autumn of 2004 for one week. In July 2005 a delegation of 6 Russian persons spent one week in Switzerland. During an intense working week many institutions and organizations could be visited. Interesting information could be collected and important contacts be made. Those contacts will remain beyond the end of the project.

3.7             Cultivation of Russian millet varieties in Switzerland
Further trials could be done. In 2003 the research institute Zurich-Reckenholz included the Russian millet in its research program. A project for the production of organic millet in Switzerland was successfully started together with the marketing organisation “Biofarm”. The quality of Russian millet is equivalent to millet imported from other countries.
Negotiations about licensed seed-production in Switzerland of the Russian millet varieties from the Institute of Legumes and Groat Crops, Orel are in progress.

4.             Collaboration with the partners
Collaboration with the partners in Russia throughout the project was good and profitable for both sides. Some administrative problems with the Russian authorities occurred.

5.            Impact

5.1             Farmers
Certainly the farmers of the region gained something by the project. However, it’s difficult to measure this gain, because no detailed evaluation could be made.

5.2 Institute of Legumes and Groat Crops, Orel

The Institute Orel could profit in different ways from the project: increased cooperation with farmers in the region, testing of its millet varieties in Western Europe, working week in Switzerland and a lot of new contacts with research institutions in Western Europe. 
5.3            Swiss College of Agriculture (SCA), University of Applied Sciences, Zollikofen,
             Switzerland
Opportunity for students to do semester and diploma work on interesting and current topics in the context of a project. Opportunity for professors to extend existing and develop new contacts and to use the results of the project in their teaching.
5.4             Further impacts
Important results and know-how from the project could be introduced and used specifically to the SDC project "EkoLan Ukraine". Results and experiences can possibly be used for other projects.

6.            Problems
The biggest problem was the communication. Administrative problems with the authorities must be mentioned. The unusual weather in Russia made the carrying out of the field trials difficult.

7.             Final considerations
Considering the sometimes difficult general conditions in Russia, the project went very well. The project obtained a certain importance, both in Russia and in Switzerland. The outcome of the project can be considered as extraordinarily good. The project also fits very well in the activities of the department of applied research and development of the SCA (synergies can be used). Very many people did and still will profit a lot by the project.

8. Contacts
Hans Ramseier, Swiss College of Agriculture, University of Applied Sciences, CH-3250 Zollikofen, Switzerland (e-mail: hans.ramseier@shl.bfh.ch)

Zollikofen, 08.09.2006            Hans Ramseier