My class consisted of both family farm operators with about 250 acres each as well as accountants from the large state-run farms with 10,000 to 20,000 acres each. I was impressed with their level of knowledge of accounting and business analysis. What is lacking is the ability to transfer the knowledge to use in day to day decision making. Although the personalities along with their ambitions, hopes, and dreams could have been right out of a group of American farmers, they face some problems we can hardly comprehend. Consequently, yields are very low due to lack of fertilizer and other inputs.
Equipment is expensive and repairs costly.
The Russian Mafia controls all business in the country. One family in my class milks 28 cows by hand. They make cottage cheese on the farm and sell milk and cottage cheese locally. The Mafia makes regular stops at the farm and demands payment. Even though the farmers were very receptive and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the classroom, the administration of both schools was reluctant to commit to any new program due to lack of money.