Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Wed, 5 Mar 1997 11:12:01 -0800 (PST)
Agriculture Projects in Russia
by
Rodale Institute
I work for Rodale Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Kutztown,
Pennsylvania, that has educated the public about and researched
ecologically sound farming methods for the past fifty years. In June 1994
we began a joint project with the Foundation for Agrarian Development
Research (FADR), a Moscow-based nonprofit organization founded in 1993
by a group of Russian citizens who wanted to influence positive
agricultural reforms in their country. The focus of our joint project is to
facilitate the sharing and exchange of information between farmers and
other agricultural professionals throughout Russia. We feel that
information is the key to helping people make changes in their
communities. Our project has been generously supported by World
Learning, Inc., but that funding will soon come to an end and we have had
difficulty securing additional support. I am thus writing to inquire
whether list members have any ideas of funding sources to approach.
Much has been achieved during the course of our project. We have:
--created an electronic listserver called FADRnews that distributes
bulletins about agricultural, environmental and communications issues to
nearly 500 subscribers;
--published a quarterly electronic journal called Agrarian Development
that contains in-depth articles about agricultural reforms in Russia and
relevant information about similar experience in other countries;
--conducted the first-ever electronic conference in Russia on the
Privatization of Russian Agriculture: Social, Economic and Ecological
Aspects. The conference took place in English and Russian with over 150
participants from more than ten countries;
--published a Guide to Electronic Communications in Russia for Russian
NGOs;
--helped reform and strengthen the Soil Conservation Act of the Russian
Federation;
--established information centers in four oblasti (Tver, Orel, Volgograd
and Novosibirsk) that disseminate information to an average of 20
partners in each region and help partners connect with one another and
with colleagues in other countries;
--created a homepage on the World Wide Web (www.fadr.msu.ru) that
contains links to information about the organizations FADR serves.
This is only a summary of our accomplishments over the past two and a
half years. As we grow and progress we will continue the activities listed
above and will work with our regional centers to help them become more
active conduits of information and consultation in their communities.
Additional plans for the future include conducting training classes for NGOs
on accessing electronic communication resources; introducing money-
saving organic farming techniques to food producers through workshops in
the four regions; and starting a project to publicize the dangers of and
alternatives to pesticide use.
We would greatly appreciate any suggestions list members have about
funding opportunities for projects like ours. We have contacted numerous
foundations already but many have told us that they do not fund
agricultural projects. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Abel
Projects Manager, Rodale Institute
[email protected]
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| in Seattle, in association with Friends & Partners. |
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| the former USSR visit CCSI's web site at: |
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