Employment and desistance

Abstract As societies Jails become increasingly over populated there seems to be a new question as to why people recommit crime and how to influence the desistance process. For those in the Criminal Justice fields theories on why individuals commit crimes are abundant. Society, biology, genes, and upbringing are all fair game in assessing the why a person commits crimes. Although understanding the etiological reasoning for crime is important, it has now become increasingly important to understand the importance of desistance and curbing criminal behavior.There are everal links that have been associated as positive correlation with deterring further crime. These include marriage, family and employment. It is easy to give a broad reason to why these factors have such a positive influence on crime, but even more important is the understanding policy implications that research into this topic will create. This paper will begin by examining existing research on the topic of employment and desistance. A survey of local employers will be conducted on employers in the Du Page, IL area to identify hiring processes of convicted criminals.Lastly if employment is the key to curbing criminal activity why are we turning away droves of quality employees? Introduction Desistance in Criminology is the cessation of criminal or other antisocial behavior. TA this point criminals have already taken a leap into the criminal world. Etiological theories have already been developed into the reason why these individuals have accepted a life of crime. Whether it is Strain, labeling, Social Learning or disorganization.Although all these theories gives us possible insight on why individuals turn to crime as a society we still need to understand how to successfully urb criminal and anti-social activity. Our corrections model that we currently have has failed in the rehabilitative aspect. It has served as a great method of temporarily removing criminals from the streets but what happens when these convicted labeled individuals are returned to the our streets. Jobless and labeled a criminal by our societies Justice system will most certainly assure a return to criminal enterprise.According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 67. 5% of the 300,000 prisoners released in 1994 were rearrested within 3 years. There aren't many institutions that succeed ith a success rate as dismal as that, however we keep churning them out. There are approximately 1 3 prisoners at yearend 2012 According to the United S Department of Justice there are approximately 650,000 ex-offenders released from prison every year. According to the same website it is expected that 433,000 of those will return to Jail, that is 2/3 of the p opulation released.That is staggering figure that contributes to the overpopulation of our prisons. One of the issues at the center of this dilemma is lack of employment opportunities for recently released convicts. The fact that the there is no such thing as an ex-con in society doesn't promote smooth reintegration even for those that do intend of becoming productive members of society. Even though these released individuals have, in the eyes of the United States Justice system paid their debt, society is unwilling to assist by denying employment and training opportunities that will make them a viable candidate in the Job market.We will examine the link between gainful employment and desistance from crime. And how will such a large segment of the population find a Job in an ailing economy. Literature Review Learning new skills, asserting ones free will, and accepting additional responsibilities. The fact that the older we get the less likely we are to engage in risky behavior. Davis Matza referred to this concept as Reform† in his 1964 book delinquency and drift. In this piece of literature he explained hoe delinquency is transient and that adolescent would grow out of there delinquent ways (Matza, 1964).This theory of delinquency lends to th e argument â€Å"boys will be boys† John H. Laub and Robert J. Sampson expand on this idea with The Life Course Perspective consists f evaluating causation of change in the desistance of from Crime through social controls that include key elements attributed to aging; a good marriage; securing legal, Stable work; and deciding to â€Å"go straight,† including a reorientation of the costs and benefits of crime† According to research conducted by Phoebe Potter â€Å"The Hazard ratio for employment is Significant at the . 0 level, suggesting that being employed does positively influence the decision to desist from crime†. In addition the text suggests a %23 percent likelihood that being employed lowers the risk of recidivating. Given the amount of people returning to Jail such studies need to be seriously looked at and action plans develop that seek to enhance employment opportunities for ex-offenders. Drug Use, Work and Desistance Drug use inherently seems to promote criminal activity for those hat use, sell or traffic. Drug use is also another antagonist to getting a Job.Much like background checks drug testing is common most positions. These drug tests are used Justifiably so to avoid workplace injuries and to minimize turnover associated with attendance issues. Considering that a significant majority of incarcerated adults were active drug sers according to National Institute of Drug Abuse website (NIDA). According to the website a survey conducted in 1997 estimated t O percent ot State and 5 percent of Federal prisoners used drugs regularly prior to incarceration†. (NIDA, 2006).The fact that drug use is so prevalent within the population committing crime serious attention needs to be paid to instituting drug rehab programs. Abstinence from drugs has a dual effect on individuals. One it facilitates finding a Job and second the chances of re-offending goes down. According to O'Connell's research for his paper Working Toward Reco very concludes hat drug treatment during the integration phase serves as a therapeutic reintegration that changes the roll of the individual from drug user and criminal to a socially compatible individual. Abstinence from drugs will then cause a departure from the old self and the new self.This separation will then have positive outcomes on the individuals economic and personnel wellbeing outcomes. (O'Connell, 2007). Allowing individuals to make a cognitive change and be able to correlate positive socially acceptable change, through abstinence from drug use and gainful employment is will contribute to future desistance form crime. It would however be counterproductive to believe that these individuals could do this by themselves. A framework needs to be built that encourages abstinence and gives people the necessary skills to be a productive member of society. Policy Implications.Understanding the link between that lives events that have a deterring effect on future criminal activit y is a significant step in being able to successfully being able to implement policies that promote hiring of this disenfranchised segment of our population. According to Phoebe Potter in her 2011 thesis she suggests certain key spects in the implementation of policies to assist in the re-integration of recently released offenders. Potter suggests that the ban on post-secondary financial assistance be lifted for Felony offenders, employers should have stiffer regulations against the discrimination of individuals with criminal records. Potter, 2011) Combined with lack of training and ever expanding background checks, make finding a Job for the pettiest of criminals a challenging task. Potter adds that there should be more intermediary agencies and re-entry programs to assist in getting ex- offender's additional opportunities (Potter, 34). Given the amount of people returning to Jail such studies need to be seriously looked at and action plans develop that seek to enhance employment o pportunities for ex-offenders. Race meets desistance As a society we are not far removed from days where public areas were segregated and minorities were openly discriminated.It would be irresponsible and naive to assume that race doesn't play a role in recidivism, employment opportunities, and ultimate desistance from crime. â€Å"According to Ryan Schroeder research has indicated that minorities, primarily African Americans, continue serious violent offending after dolescence at a rate twice as high as whites. † (Schroeder, 2005 P. 71) When minorities are released from Jail economic opportunities like employment might not be adequately distributed through society. How then are minorities with a double strike on their record; one a conviction on their background and second uneven opportunities due to race.Methodology In an effort to contribute to some of the previous research on the subject of desistance we will conduct our research. This research will be based on employers hiring practices in the area of Du Page, IL. At the time of hire applicants will be given urveys to establish a baseline of employment characteristics. The employees economic, race, sex, and criminal history will be gauged. Upon determining a baseline of qualified personnel two control groups will be targeted and followed to conduct further research.Offenders will be grouped into those that received a position and those that didn't. Salary, and amount of time subject spends at the work. Our findings should be consistent with previous research. Results should see a disproportionate number of non-employable convict's returning to criminal activity. While those that successfully were able to land a Job should see a more favorable result with desistance numbers. Conclusion Criminology has for the large part had a definite concern in establishing a reason to why individuals embark in criminal activity.More obscured was the reasoning as two why people continued to offend. Maturation sugge sts that engaging in risky criminal activity was to an extent a part of growing up. How then are career criminal classified. Our Jails are overflowing at the brim with continuously re-offending aging criminals. The economic problem is undeniable as recidivism continues to be a problem. With a two thirds rate of likelihood to re-offend and be brought back to a state or federal institution a new framework for dealing with out criminal population needs to be developed.It is inevitable that most of the incarcerated population at some point will again walk our neighborhood streets. Desistance from criminal activity must be the ultimate goal of the release process. Through existing research we have seen the connection with life achievement i. e. marriage, education, military enlistment and employment contribute to the desistance trom criminal activi ty. In order to promote successtul re- ntegration back into the community. Offenders must be given the necessary tools to do so. There is a s ignificant amount of money going into the incarcerating criminals that have been released.Samson and Laubs's work on Life-Course theory has laid the ground work in criminology in determining what needs to be done to prevent people from re- offending. â€Å"Taking a Job, graduating from high school, entrance into the military, and marriage all represent potentially pivotal periods in a transition. † (Wright, 2004 p. l). Coming from experience I could attest to how Joining the military and staying ainfully employed has helped me stay out of trouble. Truth be told I was quite the shit-bag before entering military service with United States Marine Corps.The same application of pivotal life changing and perspective changing opportunities need to be given to the recently released criminal population. Research into Desistance need to be coupled with policy changes. Re-integration programs must be designed to give offender's the tools to obtain positions. Groups like the safer founda tion in Chicago, IL must be given much needed funds to act a conduit between offenders and society. Society as a whole also needs to be willing to accept that these individuals have already paid for their crime.Background checks need to stop being a discriminating factor in handing out Jobs. An Idol mind is the devils playground is a popular saying that rings very true with our recently released offender population. Sitting at home without social skill, and without a Job will most definitely lead to re-engaging in criminal activity. Society will always need Jails, however these institutions need to also serve a rehabilitative function with the understanding that most criminals will not die in Jail. Money needs to be funneled into programs that keep offenders from returning to Jail.

A Persuasive Essay About the Influence Television Has on Children

Obesity is a growing problem, and it is time for parents to step up to the plate and take responsibility for child obesity. Daniel Weintraub uses an emotional appeal, the article â€Å"The Battle Against Fast Food begins in the Home†, to mandate parents to take responsibility to protect their children against obesity. He states that even though the fast-food companies and the government contribute and influence childhood obesity, ultimately it is the parents’ responsibility for obesity in their children.He provides several good points showing how parents are the ones to take the blame for the increasing problem. I believe that parents are indeed responsible for child obesity. Weintraub makes several good points on how parents should take responsibility and avoid obesity in their children. He does this by commanding parents to teach their children good habits, especially good, healthy eating and exercise habits. Also, he states that parents should protect children agains t bad things.In this case, fast-food is considered a bad thing since it does not only make children obese but causes a variety of medical conditions as well, so parents need to step up and protect their children against fast-food. Lastly, he believes that parents need to take responsibility since they are in the best position to educate their children. According to Daniel Wientraub, â€Å"It is parents–not the government, not the fast-food companies, not the video-game manufactures–are in the best position to fight the epidemic of overweight children. As you can see Weintraub believes that there is no one to blame for childhood obesity but the parents. Weintraub makes several good points, which induces parents to take responsibility and action for the matter. Even though Weintraub makes a good argument, he has a few weak points, because his opinions are too simple when there is more to it than what he presents. For example, Weintraub does not provide any sort of stati stics, facts, or references. Also, you could argue that teachers, not parents, are in the best position to teach their children since they are well educated in the field of health and nutrition.After all, teachers are required to teach health class in school. Lastly, the whole article is just an emotional appeal in which Weintraub goes to the extremes and exaggerates. Weintraub says, â€Å"We have laws against leaving a loaded weapon where their children can find it and use it to hurt themselves or others. But no one seems to want to tell parents that they need to protect their children from unhealthy foods and from sloth. † Clearly, he exaggerates because it is almost absurd to compare the dangers of a firearm to the dangers of a french-fry.Overall, I agree with Weintraub and believe that parents are the ones responsible for childhood obesity. First of all, parents’ poor eating habits have a great influence in child obesity. Parents need to educate themselves in the n utrition field, to be able to offer a good, healthy diet and correct portion sizes to their children. Secondly, the lack of discipline by parents also contributes to obesity in their children. Parents are easily manipulated by their children, and as a result children get what they want.Parents need to make their children get some sort of exercise as well. Lastly, parents’ economic issues might lead them to buy fast-food, but fast-food is not as cheap as it seems. When you add up all the numbers it is inevitable to notice that the difference between fast-food and home cooked meals is minimum. According to a Yale survey, seventy percent of the cause to the rise in childhood obesity rests with the parents. As you can see, statistics have shown that parents are the responsible ones for obesity in children.Evidently obesity among children is a huge, dangerous problem, which parents need to take action of and help their children. It is a must for parents to teach their children abo ut proper eating habits. Disciple also influences a child’s obesity and parents need to get a bit strict with their children. Lastly, economic issues should not lead parents to buy fast-food because it is not that cheap and very unhealthy. I believe it is time to stop blaming others. Parents need to get well educated, so they can provide good eating habits and decrease the growing problem of obesity in children.

Healthcare Management Essay

Executive Summary There are over 850,000 physicians practicing in the United States today, covering every imaginable specialty and sub-specialty (Young, Chaudhry, Rhyne, & Dugan, 2011). According to the World Health Organization (2000), even though our country spends more money per capita than any other country in the world, the USA ranks 37 out of the top 191 countries in the world in terms of overall health system performance. Although there are many reasons for this poor performance, several experts cite the lack of emphasis on primary care and true preventative medicine in the US (The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System, 2011). This is a proposal to create a community ambulatory health center in a suburban community that would provide the setting for training family medicine residents. The establishment of such a center would allow a hospital to provide better primary care services to the uninsured and underinsured patients in its community. It may also help reduce unnecessary emergency room visits as well as hospital readmissions by providing quality care to these patients. A training program would also improve the hospital’s ability to recruit and retain actively admitting primary care physicians. The proposal discusses the process for choosing the center’s location, funding models, administrative structures, as well as staffing and architectural requirements. Strategy of Service Lines and Location As mentioned in the executive summary, it is well known that many communities in the US could benefit from increased access to primary care services (Commonwealth Fund Commission, 2011). Even within suburban communities that may appear seemingly affluent, there are often significant socioeconomically challenged populations. The parent hospital would have to conduct a SWOT analysis, to identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (Longest & Darr, 2008). In this case, the presence of a family medicine residency program is a great strength, both in clinical and economic ways. Family medicine residents (and their faculty) are well versed in current, best standards of care. Graduate medical education often provides significant revenue streams, as described below. Up to four residents can work under the supervision of a single faculty  physician; often the number of patients seen in a residency clinic far exceeds that of a private office. Weaknesses include the presence of other residency clinics in the region, as well as difficulties recruiting quality residents to a new training program that has no established reputation. It can also be difficult to recruit and retain skilled and motivated faculty physicians for progams, as the compensation for such academic positions is often less than that of purely clinical posts. Threats to this proposal include changes in GME funding (external environment) and the possibility of the residency program losing its accreditation (internal and external environment). In scanning the external environment of the organization, it is possible to identify specific geographic locations that have significant numbers of uninsured/underinsured patients (but still within the hospital’s catchment area). It would also have to be convenient to public transportation, such as bus stops, subway stations, or railroad stations. Analysis of the various economic, political, demographic, and regulatory sectors would also identify the best time and location to create such a clinic. Significant forecasting would also have to confirm that the current external environment would not change in a way that would significantly worsen the chances for the clinic’s success. The creation of this new community health center would fall under the hospital’s directional strategy, as most hospital’s mission and vision statements include caring for the needy in their communities (Longest & Darr, 2008). Management and Personnel Structure Being a hospital-owned facility, a hospital administrator would be the senior manager / liaison; this would most likely be the Vice President for Ambulatory Affairs or Chief Medical Officer. The organization itself would have two chief administrators reporting to the hospital liaison; an Administrative Director (who would be the middle manager responsible for the overall management and vision of the center) and a Medical Director (who would be responsible for clinical activities, supervision, and initiatives). The Medical Director might well be the hospital’s department Chair of Family Medicine. The family medicine residency program would require a full-time physician serving as both Director of Medical Education and residency Program Director. The residency itself would have 24 residents.  In order to maintain an appropriate ratio of preceptors to trainees, there would need to be at least 4 full-time faculty attending physicians (American Osteopathic Association, 2011) An office supervisor (first-level manager) would be responsible for the day-to-day operations in the front (reception) and back (finance) portions of the office. In the front office, the practice would need 3 receptionists who would register patients upon their arrival and answer telephone calls. They would also verify patients’ insurance status. The back office would require 2 coders who would be responsible for verifying correct coding for practice visits, submit claims, and process payments from both patients and third-party payors. Another clerical staff member would be needed to process pre-authorizations and referrals (both incoming and outgoing). Finally, a charting person would be needed (even in an electronic medical record-equipped practice) to accommodate incoming paper / faxed documents. The middle (clinical) part of the office, would require 2 medical assistants who would be responsible for bringing patients from the waiting room into the appropriate area (exam room, laboratory, or procedure room) and triage them (taking and recording vital signs, documenting the chief complaint, and verifying medications and allergies). A registered nurse and licensed practical nurse would be needed to administer vaccinations and medications. Finally, a phlebotomist / lab assistant would be needed to perform venipuncture’s, prepare specimens, and perform CLIA-waived tests. The registered nurse would also serve as the Clinical Supervisor (first-level manager) for the clinical support staff. Funding Model Medicare is the primary formal financier of graduate medical education programs, contributing 72 percent of all tax-financed support. Other federal payors include Medicaid (11 percent), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (10 percent), the U.S. Department of Defense (3 percent), and the Bureau of Health Professions (3 percent) (Young & Coffman, 1998). A teaching hospital will receive direct medical education (DME) payments cover the cost of resident and faculty stipends and benefits, and overhead costs that are directly related to the teaching programs, such as ambulatory  office space. Hospitals also receive funding for indirect medical education (IME) costs because teaching hospitals have more complex case mixes, more uninsured patients, and provided services that were costly but not necessarily well reimbursed, such as trauma centers and transplants units (Cymet & Chow, 2011). These payments are, on average, total $100,000 per resident per year. However, over the last 20 years, the federal government has either frozen GME funding or in some cases, reduced it significantly (especially under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997) (Phillips, et al., 2004). Currently, the family medicine residents in this proposal do result in a net gain for the hospital. With an average salary of $45,000 plus $20,000 in benefits, the hospital stands to net $35,000 per resident. For a program of 24 residents (8 in each year), the hospital would have a net income of $840,000 from Medicare GME funding. Each of the faculty physicians would have their own clinical practice (about 0.25 FTE), so they would bill Medicare and third-party payors for their services. They would have a productivity plan whereby each month they would receive 25% of their revenue after fulfilling their monthly salary/benefit costs. Physical Characteristics / Layout of the Facility Because of the educational nature of the practice (i.e. a residency teaching clinic), the physical layout of the facility has specific needs. In the front portion of the office, the waiting room needs to have ample seating to allow for extended wait times associated with teaching clinics. The waiting room would also have to be child-friendly, with easily disinfected toys (i.e. no stuffed animals). Because many potential patients will have to apply for Medicaid or hospital-based charity programs, it would be ideal to have an office (or at least a kiosk) where a financial coordinator could meet with patients in a private area. Since this would be a multi-specialty practice with dozens of residents and attending physicians, there would need to be a large number of exam rooms, perhaps 18, all with exam tables equipped with stirrups to accommodate pelvic exams, Pap smears, and STD testing. There would also need to be a large procedure room to accommodate the need for various gynecological (colposcopy, endometrial biopsy, IUD placement/removal, etc.) and other types of procedures (suturing, biopsies. etc.). The center would also have a spacious area dedicated to residents for  charting and research, as well as two precepting rooms where clinical cases can be discussed with faculty physicians. There would be a conference room equipped with a computer and LCD projector for presentations and discussions. Numerous computer workstations throughout the clinic would allow access to an electronic medical records system. One exam room could be equipped for videotaping that is used (with the patient’s permission) to observe residents as they demonstrate the core competencies while providing patient care. The center would need a laboratory for the collection and processing of blood and other specimens. In order to avoid the same stringent regulations and testing associate with a hospital or reference laboratory, the center would only perform CLIA-waived tests such as finger-stick blood glucose testing, throat cultures, and urine dipstick analysis (CDC and CMS, 2006). The building would al so ideally have offices for each of the faculty attending physicians, as well as for administrative and support staff. Clinical Practice As mentioned previously, this community health center would offer multiple specialties. The main service would be primary care. Family medicine residents, under the supervision of faculty preceptors, would provide general internal medical, pediatric, obstetric (pre- and post-natal), and gynecologic care to patients of all ages. Additionally, other specialty physicians would be available for special â€Å"clinics†: obstetrics (perinatal) and advanced gynecology twice a week, dermatology once a week, and general surgery, gastroenterology, pulmonology, cardiology, and urology once a month. These specialty services are essential in serving the needs of the target population: uninsured and underinsured (i.e. Medicaid) patients who are unable to see these specialists in private practice. Credentialing The Chair of Family Medicine is responsible for maintaining records of each attending physician’s credentials. These would include a New York State Medical License (with updated registration), DEA registration (to prescribe controlled substances), copies of medical school and residency diplomas, proof of board certification (and maintenance), records of continuing  medical education, and CPR/Advanced Cardiac Life Support training cards. The Director of Medical Education / Residency Program Director is responsible for maintaining records for each resident physician such as their medical school diplomas/transcripts, licensing examination transcripts, ACLS training, and signed residency contracts. Local zoning and legal concerns Consideration must be given as to the choice of commercial property for this ambulatory health center. The ideal location would be a pre-existing medical office building that has already been zoned for a medical practice, and has the required number of parking spaces (especially handicapped) and adequate access in and out of the building. A multi-level building must have elevators that are compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations. In County, a Certificate of Need must be granted before a new healthcare facility can be built. There are also village and town zoning ordinances that must be considered when modifying or creating a medical office building . The center would fall under the jurisdiction of the same regulatory bodies as that of its parent hospital, and would be setup as a not-for-profit organization, since a significant portion of its care would be uncompensated.

Discussion board 5 international relation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Leadership and ethics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

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Should school uniforms be mandatory Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Draper Engineering case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Draper Engineering case study - Essay Example Usually, the conditions in the organizational environment – internal and external – influence the potentials of the organization for growth. At this point, the ability of organizational leaders to introduce strategies that will help the firm to increase its competitiveness is critical. Current paper focuses on the examination of the performance of Draper Engineering, a firm operating in the automotive and transport industry. The SWOT analysis is used as a strategic tool in order to identify the firm’s advantages and weaknesses and to check whether its potentials within the particular industry are significant or not. Moreover, the relationship between the firm and its contractors is reviewed and evaluated; measures are also suggested so that the above relationship to be improved, as possible, taking into consideration the current market conditions and the resources available. It is concluded that, currently, the performance of the organization is characterized by a series of failures; the introduction of certain policies, as suggested below, can help the organizational performance to be improved, even in the long term. 2. Draper Engineering – SWOT analysis – improvement of weaknesses 2.1 SWOT analysis In order to understand the current status of the firm in terms of its performance, it would be necessary to develop a SWOT analysis. The specific technique helps to identify a firm’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The advantage of the specific technique is that its elements are not standardized – only their classification in the four above categories needs to have the particular format (Analoui et al. 2003). Otherwise, a variety of organizational characteristics and elements can be included in the specific analysis – depending on the information provided by the organization and the market conditions, which can lead to different assumptions on a firm’s potentials for growth (Burtonshaw -Gunn 2009). For instance, for a specific organization, outsourcing can be a competitive advantage (when the technology used by the firm’s partner is significant and the increase of the firm’s productivity is important); however, for another firm outsourcing may be a weakness, when the contribution of the contractor in the increase of the firm’s performance is quite low while the costs of outsourcing are high. From this point of view, the SWOT analysis of Draper Engineering will be based on the information available but also on the expected performance of the firm in accordance with the current market performance – in other words, the potentials of a firm of this size within the specific industry would be considered as a standard – minimum – of performance which the firm should reach. If it is proved that such performance is not achieved, then the causes for this outcome will be identified and evaluated. The SWOT analysis of the particular o rganization could be developed as follows: a) Strengths The firm operates in the automotive and transport industry, a sector with many perspectives, if taking into consideration the level of the use of its products in markets worldwide. Moreover, the products of the firm are not quite common in the market; in accordance with the case study the firm focuses on the production of ‘drive shafts and track rods’ (case study, p.1) for the particular industry. This means that the firm has two significant advantages: it is part of an industry which has an important presence in the global market and

Abortion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Abortion - Research Paper Example Though these â€Å"sides† may be difficult to come to terms with, they offer essential insights, even though other relevant sides of the stories may outweigh these insights. The rhetoric, then concerning abortion discussions revolves around labels such as the pro-life and pro-choice (Alcorn, 2009). Nonetheless, what these discussions technically advance it that either side of the former is against life, while the other side is against choice. Ultimately, these discussions ignore the nuances in a victim’s (person’s) position. Well, with regard to these, various moral principles try to demystify the moral groundings of abortion. The first moral consideration is that which considers the status of the unborn child, while the second one is that which considers the rights of the expectant women or rather pregnant women (Alcorn, 2009). A great deal of the debate regarding abortion has revolved around the knowledge, namely, whether an unborn child or the fetus is a person or not. Consequently, if an unborn child is a person, then it has the rights that belong to persons, and not thereof limited to the right to life. Thus, the personification of the unborn child or the fetus is the link between the former and the right to life (Alcorn, 2009). Therefore, from a philosophical point of view, it is clear that an unborn child in itself is a person. That is, an individual with his or her own right regardless of its status or position. Nonetheless, it is difficult to determine the exact stage at which a fetus develops into or becomes a person (Alcorn, 2009). Could it be at conception, the first trimester, or even at birth? This therefore is the technicality. Nonetheless, taking the life of a person is in itself an illegal act, and the moral grounding of the act may be unjustifiable. The interesting thing about pregnant women is that they are bestowed with the

A Married Man's story by Katherine Mansfield- innovative literary Essay

A Married Man's story by Katherine Mansfield- innovative literary devices - Essay Example The questioning spirit of modernism can be seen as part of a basic search for ways to make a new sense of a society torn apart by the World Wars. The Modernist style of writing used satire and psycho-analysis, meta-narratives (story within a story), discontinuous narratives etc. The general thematic concerns of Modernist literature were a sense of alienation, despair and frustration of the individual with life and the social obligations of society. Throughout her career as an author Katherine Mansfield wrote many short stories that deal with friendship, matrimony and family life. In â€Å"A Married Man’s Story† Mansfield employs the modernist literary devices of psychoanalysis and meta-narrative to describe the emotional turmoil of an unnamed married man. Mansfield’s story takes place almost entirely inside the head of the narrator. It is composed totally of thoughts, jotted down like a confessional on paper. In this manner the reader is always distanced even from the scene of the tale i.e. the typical Modernist meta-narrative style. This man is unhappy in his relation with his wife and relates his past and present life in writing his memoirs. These are disjointed and follow no timeline giving the story a sense of timelessness; also this process leads to the writer (the married man) realizing some truths about himself and his familial relationships (self-realization is an important aspect of Modernist lite rature). The thematic style of the story also follows the modernist trend of dealing with an individual’s inner struggle to relate to a society and relationships where he feels himself exiled and out of sync. â€Å"Outside it is raining,† he writes, and he pictures himself outside in the cold darkness; â€Å"while I am here, I am there, lifting my face to the dim sky, and it seems to me it must be raining all over the world,† he concludes (Mansfield, 1923:609). These lines from the story clearly

Inspire to educate Essay Example for Free

Inspire to educate Essay Education is an avenue that enables the production of individuals who knows the proper way to live, learn and work together for the foundation of a strong community. Each and every child deserves the chance to be educated. Such learning must be the kind that involves challenges and stimulates them to achieve their maximum potential. On the Importance of Education The importance of education is quite clear. Education is the knowledge of putting one’s potentials to maximum use. One can safely say that a human being is not in the proper sense till he is educated. This importance of education is basically for two reasons. The first is that the training of a human mind is not complete without education. Education makes man a right thinker. It tells man how to think and how to make decisions. The second reason for the importance of education is that only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world; to acquaint himself with past history and receive all necessary information regarding the present. Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world (Khan, 2007). Education has an immense impact on the human society. One can safely assume that a person is not in the proper sense till he is educated. It trains the human mind to think the right decisions. In other words, man becomes rational when he is educated. It is through education that knowledge and information is received and spread throughout the world. An educated person cannot read and write and hence he is closed to all the knowledge and wisdom he can gain through books and other mediums. In other words, he is shut off from the outside world. In contrast, an educated man lives in a room with all its windows open towards the outside world. The quality of human resource of a nation is easily judged by the number of literate people living in it. This is to say that education is a must if a nation aspires to achieve growth and development and more importantly sustain it. This may well explain the fact that rich and developed nations of the world have very high literacy rate and productive human resource. In fact these nations have started imparting selective training and education programs so as to meet the new technical and business demands of the 21st century. Keeping the importance of education in mind, the US Department of Education aims to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. It also establishes policies regarding federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds. It also continuously strives to focus national attention on key educational issues and providing equal access to education. The importance of education cannot be neglected by any nation. And in today’s world, the role of education has become even more vital. It is an absolute necessity for economic and social development of any nation (Goel, 2007). Inspiring Children to Learn At one of their forums organized by the Walden University entitled â€Å"M. S. In Education: Teaching in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Classrooms,† the speakers addressed the issue on how to be able to inspire the children to learn, especially the ones who due to their culture are not supported by their family to succeed in their education. This is what they have to say: Set and environment where they choose to become inspired, where the students choose to make the decision. Many families who are from ethnic minorities are not people who have traditionally been successful in school. You need to initiate the phone call to the parents on a consistent basis and let them know how important they are to their childrens education. Do it in ways that are consistent and that show people you care. This is an idea that transcends culture. A mothers love for a child transcends culture. If you can get through to the mother, thats what transcends. You can really be proud of knowing that you have changed a life. I have never met a parent who wasnt interested in his or her child doing well in school. Dont think you can motivate people. You set an environment where people elect to be motivated and ultimately empowered. Its a choice that people make and that sets them up for success. Dont give up on anyone. Understand peoples prior knowledge of schools, where they came from. Give them a message of hope and inclusion. Dont give up and dont try to motivate. Set this environment, and youll meet with unexpected success (Walden 2006). The need for such environment has never been so great. As educators, we need to trace the path that realizes the many needs of our children. We’ve come to the realization that we cannot do it alone. We need the role of the parents as part of the team. This involvement nonetheless affirms the role of the parents as primary stakeholders in their children’s future, particularly in education. A team whose aim is to be able to provide for our children a great investment that they made be able to reach their true promise. This teamwork is headed to achieve an increased engagement in the advocacy of parents on behalf of their children’s opportunities in learning. We are after molding fully developed citizens who will do good things to their community in return. Academic achievements are only a bonus and not an end in itself. The realization of the importance of education forbids us to deny our children the ability to achieve their fullest promises. Through this light, we cannot deny our society the benefits of our children’s untapped talents. References Alrisala Organization. (2007). The Importance of Education.Retrieved December 8, 2007 from www. alrisala. org/Articles/mailing_list/importance_of_education. html. SearchWarp. com. (2007, July 6). The Importance of Education. Retrieved December 8, 2007 from http://searchwarp. com/swa230219. html. Results for America. (2007). Learn More About Education. Retrieved December 7, 2007 from http://www. resultsforamerica. org/education/learn. php. Walden University. (2006, June 6). M. S. in Education: Teaching in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Classrooms. Retrieved December 6, 2007 from www. waldenu. edu/c/Files/DocsSOE/Q-a_Ed_DiverseClassrooms. doc.

Development Of Milk And Dairy Sector In Georgia Marketing Essay

Development Of Milk And Dairy Sector In Georgia Marketing Essay The purpose of the research was to identify the obstacle and barriers which discourage milk and dairy sector in Georgia. Through interviews with experienced people in this field and deep research, the main problems will be ascertained. First I define the current situation in Georgia including Georgian breeds of cows, organizations and projects involved in this sector and the opinion of experienced people about current situation. I gathered information from Danish, Swiss, Indian and American dairy sector reports, which gave the helped me to identify what necessary factors of successful milk sector lacks Georgia. At the end of the research implementation and best possible recommendations and will be offered. INTRODUCTION It has been a long time since milk became an everyday product for humans. Today milk is consumed by many people in their everyday lives and milk production is high in order to satisfy demand. Milk is high in nutritional value; it is a great source of essential Vitamins that are vital to the human organism. Many dairy products are made from milk such as butter, ice-cream, cheese, cottage cheese, flavored milk drinks, yogurt, and cream and so on. Georgia faces some problems with milk production. The local fresh milk is available only seasonally (from April till October), in Winter only imported powdered milk from Ukraine or Belarus is accessible. Another problem is degeneration of thoroughbred cows; they are mixed with local mongrel cows, which results in fewer productivity. Cows in Georgia usually produce two to three tones of milk in a year, comparison to European cows it is twice smaller number. Georgia has a great potential to flourish this sector, but it is not used properly. Some investment, regulatory rules and support from foreign organizations and Ministry of Agriculture is necessary to solve the obstacles and develop milk production sector in Georgia. Many organization are involved in expand the dairy sector and also couple of projects take place, in order give support to local milk producers. FROM FARM TO TABLE 1.1 Cows and lactation process Cows, our main source of milk, produce about four to seven tons of milk each year. The quantity of milk produced by a cow depends on its weight and its diet. Usually a cow weights from 380 to 720 kilograms and produces 12 times its weight of milk each year. A standard cow eats about 770 kilograms of grain, 1 200 kilograms of grass and hay, 2 800 kilograms of silage and drinks about eight gallons of water every day. Everyday a cow needs to eat more than 2 kilograms of hay and grain which contain essential minerals, vitamins and corn. In order to produce a high quantity of milk, a cow must drink water. Farmers use special milking machines twice in a day. It is necessary for every cow to get milked because once their udders are full they start to feel uncomfortable. Milk must be refrigerated after in order to keep it fresh. Milk producers keep milk refrigerated approximately one to two days after which it is loaded on trucks. Special trucks take it to the factory where it is processed. This is where milk is divided into cream and skim milk and is standardized by the fat content. Milk is delivered to the factory from different farms and thus levels of fat vary. The process of differentiating the milk by the amount of fat is called standardization. The level of fat determines the value of the milk and hence the salary of the farmer. In order to enhance the nutritional value of milk, factories add Vi tamin D and Vitamin A (good for strong teeth and bones). This process is called fortification. The next step is packaging and delivering the milk to stores, where it is also kept in the refrigerators to keep it fresh and cool. Then milk has to be pasteurized to kill and remove the harmful bacteria. This is done by heating it to more than 70 (Celsius) degrees and after 15 seconds suddenly cooling it to 2-3 Celsius, which is its normal storing temperature. After pasteurization and cooling, milk undergoes a process called homogenization, where milk is forced through tiny openings under high pressure. The homogenization process is necessary for breaking down the fatty drops of cream, so every globule of milk will have the same level of cream and the cream will not float on the top of the milk. This whole action from standardization to pasteurization is called processing. Milk producers usually test milk for its water level, fat content and the percentage of bacteria. Water usually is not added to milk. However, sometimes it happens that water from machinery is mixed in with milk by chance. The quality of milk is determined by processing and also on the food intake of the cow. The quantity, quality and flavor o f the milk depend on the food which is eaten by the cow. The main components of milk are 87% water, 4% lipid, 5% lactose (carbohydrate), 3.3% protein and 0.7% minerals. But these numbers can vary depending on the cow breed, its diet and the phase of lactation. Although levels of components vary in milks, different kinds of milk can be stored together in the same tanks. 1.2 Milk process model (Based on Cornell University model) 1.3 Condition of lactation Until lactation the farmer has to make sure that the udder, the flanks and the teats of the milk producing animal are clean. Her udder has to be washed and massaged with a warm detergent sanitizer solution. To decrease infectivity, the first flow of milk from each teat has to be separated from other streams of milk because this flow includes all the organisms that entered the teat while it was opening. It is dangerous, when the producing animal has an infected udder, it might hold numerous, potentially harmful, organisms. In such a case, it is likely, that there will be harmful diseases. One of the most hazardous diseases is called Mastitis, which can add numerous organisms in milk. Farmers have to pay careful attention that the cow is milked until the udder is empty because if some milk remains in the udder it will spoil. Milk usually spoils when microorganisms generate noxious and degraded proteins, fat of milk and carbohydrates. The farmer or the personal responsible for lactation of the milk producing animal has to be in good health condition. Hands have to be washed carefully with special bactericidal solution and the nails have to be kept away from dirt. They have to have a clean handkerchief, a surgical mask and wear neat and clean uniforms. Following protocol is obligatory in order to prevent milk from epidemics and harmful diseases, for the personal or the farmer may be carrier of such infections or diseases. The main milk viruses are brucellosis, tuberculosis and Q fever. However there are also other, infrequent, bacteria and diseases found in milk such as pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, streptococcal infections, and anthrax and so on. 1.4 Milk Powder Powder can be manufactured from milk which has much longer lifecycle than fresh milk does. The powder manufacturing process consists of subtracting water from milk at the lowest possible cost under strict hygiene settings. The 87 percent of water which milk contains is removed by boiling it at low temperature and keeping it under reduced pressure. Approximately thirteen kilograms of milk powder can be produced one hundred liters of milk. In order to liquidate milk, it must be mixed with water. Like normal milk, liquidated milk powder must be refrigerated in order to keep it fresh. One of the main reasons why powder is manufactured is the ease of bulk transportation. It is also cheaper than fresh milk. Fresh milk cannot be transported easily for long distances. For example, if in Georgia there is a shortage of milk; neighboring countries (Ukraine or Belarus) do not export fresh milk because it spoils easily during transportation. It is obvious for everyone, that fresh milk tastes bett er and is healthier than powdered milk. The level of fat in powdered milk is almost zero and it may not be fortified with Vitamin D and Vitamin A. GEORGIA 2.1 Current situation in Georgia In 1993, the population of the area presently under the control of the Georgian Government was some 4.8Â  million. In 2005, the number had decreased to less than 4.3Â  million, but the decrease in population has not affected the urban and rural areas equally. The decrease in the rural population was only some 100,000 people, 20% of the total decrease and less than half of what would have been expected. One of the reasons for this is that when the economy fell and jobs were lost, many Georgians returned to their original rural areas and engaged in agriculture as a survival strategy. Georgia is a mountainous country in which the development of livestock production started long ago. It has always been an important part of the agriculture sector and of the national economy in general. Farmers raised cattle, pigs and chicken in the lowlands, while in the highlands sheep farms were the major source of income for many households. The transition has significantly affected the livestock sector in Georgia. During the social unrest in 1992-93 the number of livestock sharply decreased. These numbers began to increase after 1995. Subsistence farmers diversify their production. They usually own milk producing cows, pigs and a few chickens. Milk, meat and eggs are produced for both home consumption and for sale. The daily cash income of rural households largely depends on the sale of livestock products, especially milk, cheese and meat. The interest of certain companies in the private sector in livestock production has increased over the past 15 years which has increased the use of feed crops in Georgia, especially maize and barley. A rapid increase in maize production following Georgias land privatization policies in the mid-1990s is a direct result of the private sectors interest in livestock. 2.2 Herds of cows in Georgia Most herds of cows in Georgia are a mixed breed in origin. There are a number of different breeds that are commonly identified. The major livestock breeds are: Caucasian mountain breed; Megrelain breed; Caucasian Brown breed, Russian Red breed, Black White Russian Friesian breed and Jercy breed. The Caucasian Mountain breed is predominantly found in North-East Georgia and is considered as a small breed. It weighs approximately 275 kg and produces low quantities of milk. This bread is used for mostly for meat production. The Megrelain breed, mostly found in the valley and mountains in the West Georgia, is also a small breed. However, these cows produce more milk than does the Caucasian mountain breed. It produces approximately 500 to 1 500 liters per lactation, depending on the supplementary food that is given to the producing animal. It has a reddish or brownish coat and weights about 300 kilograms. The Caucasian Brown breed produces significantly more milk than both the Megrelian b reed and the Caucasian Mountain breed. These cows are the offspring of Brown Swiss bulls with the local breeds. They weigh about 500 kilograms and produce from 2 500 to 3000 liters per lactation. The Caucasian Brown breed is a great milk and meat source. Currently most Caucasian brown breeds are producing offspring with local breeds and so, over time, if this trend continues the Caucasian Brown breed may no longer have its genetically superior qualities. Another large breed is the Russian Red breed which weights from 450 to 500 kilograms and can produce from 4 000 to 5000 liters of milk. However, similar to the Caucasian Brown breed, it is breeding with local bulls, which will cause the degradation of the original breed. The Black and White Russian Friesian breed, another large quantity milk source, produces 3 000 to 5 000 liters of milk per lactation. However, this breed is so small in number that it is in danger of becoming extinct. The Jercy breed is originally from Denmark and w as brought to Georgia by UMOCR and financed by USDA in 2002. They were sent to two locations; Sagarejo and Signagi. However, pregnant Jercy cows in Sagarejo had adaptation related problems and did not survive. In contrast, the Jercy cow breeds in Signagi have successfully adapted to their new environment and have increased in number since 2002. The Jercy breed is can produce more milk than local breeds can and its milk has higher levels of fat; approximately 4 to 5 percent. Georgian farmers stated that the average milk yield was around 1,200 kg per cow. However, statistical data in the country and by region and district indicates that the average milk yield varied around 1,000 kg. 2.3 Ascertaining the problems through interview #1 Zurab Tskitishvili, director of a milk production factory and a highly experienced man in this field, agreed to give an interview and share his opinion about the current situation in Georgia concerning milk production, issues regarding livestock, and certain unsolved problems. According to Mr.Tskitishvili Georgian livestock production is below its maximum potential capacity. He stated that, livestock producers lack incentives to produce for large markets because of the absence of reliable supply chains for their products. They predominantly continue to produce at near subsistence levels, with low productivity. At the same time, the larger scale Georgian manufacturers of livestock products are not purchasing the amount of raw materials from Georgian livestock farmers that they could be purchasing. He states that, they could tap into the growing urban markets if they decide to invest the time and money. They face formidable challenges and risks in the development of effective supply ch ains for livestock products. They also face challenges associated with high interest rates and aggressive international competition. Faced with these costs and uncertainties, processors have opted to satisfy most of their demand by importing milk powder. According to Mr.Tskitishvili the effect of these constraints is that the supply chain for the main livestock products is dysfunctional. For farmers, it means that their considerable capital asset in the form of livestock is performing far below its potential, leading directly to severe financial difficulties. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity to supply the urban markets with fresh Georgian-sourced products. Most manufacturers of dairy and meat products confirm that Georgian consumers show a distinct preference for such products, which can easily be sold to them when the necessary supply chains are established. The statistics on agriculture in Georgia are not very reliable since most production comes from farms that consume all or most what they produce. However, estimates show a cattle population of some 1.1 million heads, with slowly rising figures. Milk production reached 700,000 tons of milk in 2001, which is insufficient for the Georgian milk and dairy demand. Self-sufficiency is about 60-65% and the remaining milk products are imported. Average yields are not more than 1,000 1,300 kg/cow per year. These low yields are a result of the loss of the former markets, the undeveloped infrastructure and the lack of support services, such as veterinary services, advisory services, artificial insemination and inputs supply (quality seeds and fertilizers). Many farmers are stuck in a low input low-output trap and domestic production suffers from import competition. The decayed state of the irrigation and drainage systems is also a major constraint to increasing (crop) yields and the competitive ness of domestic production with imports. Moreover, a lack of monitoring of the food intake of cows is also a prevalent problem in Georgia. While Georgia is not a heavily polluted country, the garbage disposal system is poor in some areas. Therefore there is sometimes garbage lying around for cows to eat. Certain cow milk does not meet Georgias food safety and quality standards due to the diet of the cow. In order to increase good quality milk production, it is necessary to strictly monitor what cows are eating. If the government were to establish a good garbage disposal system in these regions then cows would only have access to healthy food Electricity is sometimes not available in certain regions, making it difficult to install milking equipment and cooling tanks in those areas. Fodder production and conservation is difficult because of the lack of farm machinery and good seeds. The lack of farm machinery increases dependence on desirable weather conditions which are beyond the control of cattle grazers and farmers. Concentrates are expensive in relation to the price of milk. Milk production is highly dependent on natural grazing, which combined with spring-calving, causes high seasonal fluctuations in milk production. This is again reflected in the price of milk, which varies from around 25 Tetri/kg (25 Tetri is equivalent to 10 Euro cents) in summer to 45 Tetri/kg in winter. Grain can be sold for 55-60 Tetri/kg in winter. The quantity of animal food products produced within Georgia does not meet the Georgian populations demand for these products. In 2005, (the latest statistical data available) the total milk production in Georgia was 788,000 tons or about 65% higher than 1995. During the same period, per capita milk consumption increased from 146 kg to 238 kg or a 63% increase, while imports increased from 228,000 tons to 268,000 tons or an increase of 12.6%. The majority of the increase in total milk consumption was covered by local production, thus reducing dependency on imports and increasing the self-sufficiency ratio from 68% in 1995 to 75% in 2005. The increase in total milk production was mainly due to an increased number of cows. The main reason for low productivity is the short lactation period (250 to 280 days) and the lack of quality winter feed. During the winter cows are generally not milked. They are mainly fed straw and in some cases with hay. Grass is cut late in the summer when it has already lost its nutritional value. The production of fodder crops is limited by the scarcity of the arable land and lack of irrigation. Milk production from cows can be greatly improved by better nutrition management and health control. 2.4 Ascertaining the management of cow feed through interview #2 After the interview, it became obvious that cow food intake is an unresolved problem. Ia Mirazanshvili, a representative of GRM international, discussed in an interview the details of managing cow feed. She works for GRM international, which is leading international development Management Company specializing in the provision of project design, management expertise and technical assistance to development projects for bilateral and multilateral funding agencies, governments and corporations. GRM international is starting a new project in Georgia which will be based on dairy sector development. Ia Mirazanshvili provided me with the current information and future development strategy regarding feed production. About twelve years ago 260,000ha were used for the production of 516,000 tons of cereals, which represented 36% of the local consumption. In 2005, the total land for cereal production increased to 355,000 ha or by 35.6 %, which resulted in the total production of 703,000 tons, cov ering 49% of the local consumption. One third of the total production, 332.000 tons, was used for feed and two thirds for direct consumption by population. According to statistics from the Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, since 2007 farmers interest in cereal production has significantly declined due to an unfavorable domestic price. In 2005/2006 production of maize amounted to 421,000 tons, half of which was used for animal feed. The self-sufficiency ratio in maize is between 97 percent and 100 percent. In the country, there is only one feed mill located in Marneuli, some 40 km south of Tbilisi. The mill is owned by the Dogan Company from Turkey. It has a capacity of 1 t/h of feed for fish and 5 t/h of feed for cattle. The information on the total volume of feed sold in one year is not available. The mill is not equipped with an analytical laboratory or quality control system. There are no tariff or non-tariff barriers for the importation of compound feed. The majority of sma ll to medium-sized farms do not use compound feed. However, in view of the expected increase in meat consumption (in 2005 per capita meat consumption was 32,5 kg compared with 29 kg in 1995, a 12% increase) and the necessary changes in pig production systems, Mrs. Mirazanshvili assumes that the demand for compound feed, particularly for monogastric animals would increase in the near future. As for the livestock sector, improvement of the local market for locally produced milk and dairy products, stabilization of prices close to their present levels and an increase in milk yields per cow could have a positive impact on demand for milk replacements for calves and on the consumption of compound feed for dairy cattle. Although there is a limited (niche) market for quality beef, it is difficult to assume that cereal based beef production will play an important role in the cattle sector of Georgia. The future development of the feed industry in the country will greatly depend on the level of self-sufficiency in cereals, and the world market prices of cereals and other imported components. It may be assumed that the consumption of cereals for feed production would increase parallel with an increased yield from cereals presently very low at 2.0 tons/ha to a higher level, which should be attainable in the local agro-climatic conditions and improved agronomy. 2.5 Organizations involved in improvements of Georgias milk sector From the interview with her it became obvious that this field is considered an important field by many Georgian and foreign organizations. GRM international along with NGOs and other prominent organizations are involved in the Georgian dairy industry. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), through its implementing agency OPTO International, is managing the ongoing Support to the Milk and Dairy Sector in Georgia project. This project has developed three main components the mobilization and capacity building of small dairy farmers/householders and development of supply chains for milk and dairy products; the establishment of an industry association, the Dairy Industry Promotion Association (DIPA); and improved Food Safety information. The World Bank (WB) is currently preparing a Livestock Development Programme. The formulation report for this project has been presented and the project design is to be discussed in July. UMCOR has carried out agricultural projects in Georg ia since 1997. Although they are not engaged in any project currently, they are assessing potential projects in two regions; Shida Kartli and Samtskhe Javakheti. In both regions they are conducting soil tests and looking at farmer association opportunities. The Georgian Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) imported 10,000 doses of semen from Worldwide Sires in the US (Brown Swiss, Jersey and Holstein), of which 3,000 doses, mainly Jersey, are left. MAF are in the process of importing 500 in-calf heifers (300 Brown Swiss and 200 Holstein). They are planning to distribute up to 30 animals to individual farmers (2,000 Euro per cow). GTZ have their Developing Agrarian Sector project, which has been operating for the past two years. This assists MAF in developing their Food Quality and Safety standards. They have two pilot regions: Samtskhe Javakheti for beef production and Shida Kartli for fruit production. In addition, GTZ ran the Business Development Programme in Borjomi a Regional Development Initiative project with US$ 3.5 million funding from BTC Partners (BP), which ended at the end of 2008. The project was established for a year and a half, concentrating increasing milk production from cows and honey production from bees. They have 1,300 farmers with 5,000 cows, all of which have been registered and ear-tagged. Animal health is a key component of the project; 30% of cow blood samples have been taken and tested. 2.5 SWOT analysis The genetic straits of milk producing cattle in Georgia are problematic in establishing a thriving dairy industry. In order to move one step forward, the genetics of cows in Georgia needs to be improved. Only certain types of cow breeds can produce desirable quantities of milk to fuel a large dairy industry. We can assume that genetic improvement should be an integral and essential element of a complete strategy and national program for dairy development. Perhaps the development of the cattle sub-sector in Georgia could be a part of the solution. Potentials and constraints are summarized in the SWOT analysis above. Defining breeding objectives (e.g. assessment of the market and the future demand for products, increased milk production, type of milk required, desired characteristics of cattle with regard to production systems and methods, etc) is the first step towards the treatment and development of the sub-sector. This should be done by farmers on local levels and coordinated at th e level of the state. SWOT Analysis of Current Production Systems Strengths a) High demand for milk and milk products: in 2005, the country imported 268,000 tons of milk (mainly milk powder) or 25% of the total milk consumption; b) Growing per capita consumption of milk: from 146 kg in 1995 to 238 kg in 2005; c) Nutritional habits of the population and a diet that includes daily consumption of cheese (particularly local types such as Sulguni and Imeruli) and fermented products; d) More than sufficient numbers of cows: in 2007, there were about 700.000 milking cows; e) 276,000 he of pasture land. Weaknesses a) Low productivity of cows about 1000 kg; b) Poor and inadequate nutrition, particularly during the winter; c) Short lactation period 250 to 280 days; d) Poor management of dairy cows and inadequate housing; e) Lack of sanitary control and inadequate veterinary support (TBC, brucellosis, mastitis); f) Difficult access to credit; g) Lack of extension service support; h) Poor rural roads and difficulties in sale of liquid milk to processors; i) Orientation of processors to use reconstituted milk for the production of fermented products. j) Lack of legislation and regulatory measures governing animal production and genetic improvement (food law, animal production laws and regulations). Opportunities a) Meeting the existing demand: local market can absorb 30 to 40 percent higher quantities of locally produced milk and milk products; b) Improved productivity, utilization and management of pastures and meadows (e.g. re-seeding, fertilization, mechanization, conservation of hay and grass silage); c) Increased production of food crops by rational utilization of land and water resources, including use of fallow and temporarily uncultivated land and rehabilitation of irrigation systems; d) Improved utilization of the existing genetic resources by better nutrition, housing, health care and management including separation of males from cows, use of healthy and licensed bulls for natural mating and use of locally produced and imported semen for selected best cows as potential bull mothers; e) Development of market and profit-oriented breeding objectives (e.g. increase in milk yield per cow, increase in slaughter weight of beef, decrease in the total number of cows) and of producer driven, owned and managed breeding programs aimed at genetic improvement through identification of animals, establishment of recording of productive and functional traits, genetic evaluation, use of the best local and imported bulls for natural mating and A.I. including the establishment of herd books of nucleus (elite) national herds of selected breeds and of the improved technical and business cooperation with European and world breed associations; f) Functional cooperatives and producers associations with their own extension and marketing services including milk collection centers established within the framework of development assistance projects with potential of spillover effects. g) Improved institutional framework (producers associations, commercial organization, extension, veterinary care, research) and human resources (training of farmers and technicians, international technical and commercial cooperation) in support of the attainment of policy, production and breeding objectives. h) Approval of legislative measures related to animal production, protection of consumers and safety of food; Threats a) Substantial decline in world prices of milk powder and butter; this may lead to an increase in import of skimmed milk for reconstitution and production of fermented products from imported material; b) Further decline in genetic potential and production capacity due to inbreeding and uncontrolled mating within herds and nahiri (group of animals from a village or from several owners grazing communal pastures); c) Further increase in number of cows with low genetic potential in reply to increased demand for milk and the lack of cows with higher genetic potential; d) Overgrazing of existing public pastures by an increased number of cattle; e) Outbreak of diseases and their spread throughout of the country due to inadequate control of movements of animals and the lack of existence of systems for identification and registration of animals and cattle keeping holdings. 2.6 Risk Analysis The Terms of Reference highlighted a number of risk factors that may affect the project accomplishment. An evaluation of these factors has been made during the Inception Phase with the following findings: Factor Risk Economic growth Economic crisis, low or negative growth Public finance Budget limits restricting Georgian partner responsibility Quality of public Corruption administration Agricultural development Policy mistakes, for example re-collectivization Dairy Sector Growth Stagnant raw milk supply; stagnant consumer demand Stalled reform of rich countries Continued export subsidies, low international powder agricultural and trade policies, prices especially as to expert subsidies Worsening of South Ossetian Refusal of Ossetian and Georgian work together security Conflict problems III. SOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS In Georgia, 80% of milk is produced in the spring and summer, although demand for dairy products is greatest in the winter. Provided farmers can manage the additional husbandry, milking cows over winter is more profitable, as the winter price is usually twice or even three times that of the summer price. The SMDSP Project has been implementing a winter milk program including three activities. These include: planting of forage crops in each village, autumn calving, and special winter feed demonstrations, including trials and cost benefit analyses in concentrate usage and for the future silage maize. The lack of forage (hay and silage) is a major factor for promoting the seasonal calving during the spring. To extend the lactation period through year-round calving, the Project is promoting protection of forage crops through forage demonstrations in each Dairy Farmer Association (DFA). The planting and harvesting of forage crops is managed by the members of the DFA, who benefit from the output of the demonstrations. There is evi