American Breeders Service : evaluation/case study -- modernizing and privatizing the artificial insemination and breeding industry in Poland

Evaluation covers the period 3/92-4/93. The project has been implemented by the American Breeders Service (ABS) and the Olecko Artificial Insemination (A.I.) and Breeding Station in Poland. At the midway point the project is viewed as a success by the Olecko A.I. and Breeding Station, Polish Officials, USAID, and ABS. All parties involved seem to have learned a great deal from the project"s first year of implementation and are now ready to apply those lessons to the remainder of the project. While the first year of the project has been successful, there are several activities crucial to the project"s overall success that need to be carried out in this second year, including: (1) completion of the privatization and business plans; (2) placement of a strong leader with good business skills at the Olecko Station; (3) taking a more pro-active role in policy reform; (4) training the personnel of the other Polish A.I. and Breeding Stations as well as interested individuals; and (5) completing the modernization of the Olecko Station. This last activity will require establishing or completing a national marketing force, an operational computer system, and a modern semen collection, handling, processing, packaging, and distribution system. In order to accomplish these tasks, the project will require additional time and funding. The original time and funding needs were perhaps underestimated. The reason for this has been twofold. Some activities are taking longer than anticipated. Other activities have been so successful that additional activities can now be carried out. An example of this second situation is that the training at the Olecko Station has worked extremely well; now other A.I. and Breeding Stations and private individuals are interested in receiving training and the government has asked ABS to extend the training program beyond Olecko. With additional funding, it is likely that the Olecko A.I. and Breeding Station will become a private business within a relatively short time. This example could lead the way to the entire industry being privatized and subsidies ending. This project has been the driving force beyond these developments and is expected to continue to lead the industry in its efforts to change. Ultimately however, the Government of Poland has to make the decision about privatizing the industry. (Author abstract)