THE HOLM TEAM Agriculture. Resources. International
Cooperation, Writing
____________________________________________________________________
R.R. #1, HP-8, Bowen
Island,
B.C., Canada V0N 1G0
Phone: (604) 947-2893
www.theholmteam.ca
Fax: (604) 947-2321
IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF
COOPERATION
AND GIVING...
Canadian Dairy Farmers
Triple
Milk Production at a Cuban Cooperative
BOWEN ISLAND, BC
Tuesday December 19, 2007
"What these
Canadian farmers have done is nothing short of amazing" says Wendy
Holm, the
Bowen Island-based Agrologist behind an international project that
brought
dairy farmers from Canada and Cuba together "to make a difference".
Canadian dairy farmers
Lorne Hansen (BC), Bruce Beattie
(Alberta) and Jim, Gladys and Morgan Millson (Ontario) participated a
one-year
CIDA-supported farmer-to-farmer
pilot project to increase milk production at an agricultural
cooperative in
rural Havana province.
"This international
project, built
on cooperation between Canadian and Cuban farmers, has opened doors and
opened
hearts," says Holm. "The
sustainable, small-footprint model based on solar power, rotational
grazing and
good dairy management practices has already tripled milk production at
CPA 26
July. Cuba imports half her dairy
requirements. According to our farmers, there is no reason why Cuba
canÕt be
self-sufficient in sustainable dairy production. And in the true spirit
of
cooperation, Canadian farmers are working with Cuban farmers to help
make that
happen." Full details are posted at www.theholmteam.ca.
Here's what the Canadian
farmers who volunteered for this
project have to say about it:
Bruce Beattie is a
dairy farmer
from Sundre, Alberta.
Canada
has a long history of good relations with
Cuba — I remember my parents cheering as Castro succeeded in defeating
Batista and his thugs. Canada has
a role to play in the world as a peacekeeper and builder and supporter
of
people who need help, of a generous society of farmers who
survived in
this climate by helping each other and working together. Supply
management provides the cooperative framework that
is successful in
ensuring Canadian dairy farmers are fairly compensated for
their investment of labour and capital. We are unique in the
world
with that system, but the cooperative aspect is universal among
farmers.
I am privileged to live in a country like Canada, and if I can in
some
small way, help those with much less who are ready to help themselves,
it makes
Canada a better place and me a better person.
Lorne Hansen is a
retired dairy
farmer from Harrison Mills, British Columbia.
I
was happy
to be part of a project that gave me a chance not only to see how the
Cubans
have adapted so well to their situation but also that we were able to
help them
with our input because of their appreciativeness and their willingness
to grasp
new ideas. I was also happy to be
part of a project that saw such good results.
Jim Millson, his wife
Gladys and
children Ben, Elizabeth, Morgan, Laura and Angela operate a fifth
generation
dairy farm in Enniskillen, Ontario.
Jim
Millson: The farmer-to-farmer
relationship has
been the most rewarding part. .
CPA Julio 26 has become more than just a project,
it has become our
family hobby in which true friendships grow with
each encounter and
satisfy our mutual passion for improving the art of farming. It is also really good to know we have
made a difference in the ability of the CPA to improve their
production
capacity. And then, when our hands get too dirty to shake, we have
learned to
find more meaning in rubbing elbows!
Gladys
Millson: I am very proud to be a
Canadian
in Cuba because you really feel that they warmly consider us their
friends. We have embraced the project as just another
challenge for our family farm--with tropical benefits. All agree that the most important
achievement of the project is the friendship developed between Canadian
and
Cuban farmers. To share their enthusiasm and optimism
and
to observe their sincere gratitude is the best reward. As with any other of our farm projects,
we are committed to finish what we have started. It's also nice to see
the
Canadian flag flying at the CPA on every visit.
Morgan Millson, young
farmer,
2006 Agribusiness Graduate, University of Guelph
This
project has allowed me, a 22 year old
"farmers daughter", the opportunity to travel to Cuba, and do
something people my age don't normally get to do. Meeting and working
with the
members of the CPA has been very rewarding and wonderful experience.
Darryl Donneral, rural
electrician and Morgan's fiance. It gives me a great deal of pride
to be
able to help a nation instead of just a single person. I just wish that
I could
do more to help. Of all the places I have travelled, the people at CPA
26 Juilo
are, bar none, the best of the best. The hospitality down there is
fantastic. I just wish that I
could speak Spanish so I could speak more freely.
Next steps will be to
repeat the success of this sustainable
rural dairy model in a peri-urban setting, using recovered municipal
wastewater
for effluent irrigation. The
nutrient-rich water will be reclaimed through Canadian constructed
wetlands
technology produced by Eco Tek Ecological Technologies Inc, based in
Langley,
B.C.
The Canadian NGO Partner
is Vancouver-based International
Centre for Sustainable Cities and the Cuban NGO partner is ANAP (Asociaci—n
Nacional De Agricultores Peque–os).
The project was supported
by $75,000 in funds from the
Canadian International Development Agency and $82,000 in donations from
Canadian farmers, Canadian farm suppliers (in particular, Gallagher
Canada and
Gallagher New Zealand) and supportive Canadians.
For further comment,
please contact Wendy Holm, P.Ag.
604-947-2893, 604-417-2434 (cel) www.theholmteam.ca
Wendy Holm is an
award-winning Agrologist, resource
economist and journalist based on Bowen Island, British Columbia