The negative experience of large-scale collective farms during the Soviet period, whose primary function was to benefit the state as opposed to the individual small farmer, remains in the psyche of farmers throughout Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), serving as a disincentive to collaborate. This perspective clashes with a rapidly changing global marketplace, which demands large volumes of high-quality products to meet the needs of consumers. Using the Mennonite Economic Development Associates' (MEDA) Ukraine Horticulture Development Project (UHDP) as a case study, this article demonstrates that, introduced using a culturally sensitive approach and with the right market-based incentives, informal and formal methods of collective action can result in important benefits for small farmers in terms of increased incomes, stronger market position, and strengthened community alliances.

Chirwa, E., Dorward, A., Kachule, R., Kumwenda, I., Kydd, J., Poole, N., Poulton, C., and Stockbridge, M. (2005) ‘Walking tightropes: supporting farmer organisations for market access’, ODI Natural Resources Perspectives No. 99, London: Overseas Development Institute <www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access≯ [accessed 22 May 2013]. www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2002) Developing Producer Groups and Rural Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe: Issues and Challenges, Rome: FAO.

FAO (2010) ‘Ukraine, agriculture sector, key statistics’ <http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4

Grace, D. (2010) ‘Crossfire: “Producer collective, cooperatives and other types of groups are not usually sustainable and do not deliver long-term benefits to smallholders”’, Enterprise Development & Microfinance 21: 93-100 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.2010.009≯.

Millns, J. (2006) Promoting Farmer Entrepreneurship through Producer Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, Institutions for Rural Development Series, Rome: FAO.

Quigley, J. and Jones, L. (2007) Integrating Smallholders into Effective Markets: Inclusive and Sustainable Value Chain Development of the Horticulture Subsector in Crimea and Zaporizhzhia, MEDA Detailed Proposal, Waterloo, Canada: MEDA.

Stockbridge, M. (2003) Farmer Organisations for Market Access: An International Review, London: Department for International Development.

World Bank (2008a) ‘Agriculture, value added (% of GDP)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008b) ‘Agricultural land (% of land area)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008c) ‘Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS

World Bank (2009) Implementing Agriculture for Development, World Bank Group Agriculture Action Plan: FY2010-2012, Washington, DC: World Bank.

Chirwa, E., Dorward, A., Kachule, R., Kumwenda, I., Kydd, J., Poole, N., Poulton, C., and Stockbridge, M. (2005) ‘Walking tightropes: supporting farmer organisations for market access’, ODI Natural Resources Perspectives No. 99, London: Overseas Development Institute <www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access≯ [accessed 22 May 2013]. www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2002) Developing Producer Groups and Rural Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe: Issues and Challenges, Rome: FAO.

FAO (2010) ‘Ukraine, agriculture sector, key statistics’ <http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4

Grace, D. (2010) ‘Crossfire: “Producer collective, cooperatives and other types of groups are not usually sustainable and do not deliver long-term benefits to smallholders”’, Enterprise Development & Microfinance 21: 93-100 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.2010.009≯.

Millns, J. (2006) Promoting Farmer Entrepreneurship through Producer Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, Institutions for Rural Development Series, Rome: FAO.

Quigley, J. and Jones, L. (2007) Integrating Smallholders into Effective Markets: Inclusive and Sustainable Value Chain Development of the Horticulture Subsector in Crimea and Zaporizhzhia, MEDA Detailed Proposal, Waterloo, Canada: MEDA.

Stockbridge, M. (2003) Farmer Organisations for Market Access: An International Review, London: Department for International Development.

World Bank (2008a) ‘Agriculture, value added (% of GDP)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008b) ‘Agricultural land (% of land area)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008c) ‘Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS

World Bank (2009) Implementing Agriculture for Development, World Bank Group Agriculture Action Plan: FY2010-2012, Washington, DC: World Bank.

Chirwa, E., Dorward, A., Kachule, R., Kumwenda, I., Kydd, J., Poole, N., Poulton, C., and Stockbridge, M. (2005) ‘Walking tightropes: supporting farmer organisations for market access’, ODI Natural Resources Perspectives No. 99, London: Overseas Development Institute <www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access≯ [accessed 22 May 2013]. www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2002) Developing Producer Groups and Rural Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe: Issues and Challenges, Rome: FAO.

FAO (2010) ‘Ukraine, agriculture sector, key statistics’ <http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4

Grace, D. (2010) ‘Crossfire: “Producer collective, cooperatives and other types of groups are not usually sustainable and do not deliver long-term benefits to smallholders”’, Enterprise Development & Microfinance 21: 93-100 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.2010.009≯.

Millns, J. (2006) Promoting Farmer Entrepreneurship through Producer Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, Institutions for Rural Development Series, Rome: FAO.

Quigley, J. and Jones, L. (2007) Integrating Smallholders into Effective Markets: Inclusive and Sustainable Value Chain Development of the Horticulture Subsector in Crimea and Zaporizhzhia, MEDA Detailed Proposal, Waterloo, Canada: MEDA.

Stockbridge, M. (2003) Farmer Organisations for Market Access: An International Review, London: Department for International Development.

World Bank (2008a) ‘Agriculture, value added (% of GDP)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008b) ‘Agricultural land (% of land area)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008c) ‘Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS

World Bank (2009) Implementing Agriculture for Development, World Bank Group Agriculture Action Plan: FY2010-2012, Washington, DC: World Bank.

Chirwa, E., Dorward, A., Kachule, R., Kumwenda, I., Kydd, J., Poole, N., Poulton, C., and Stockbridge, M. (2005) ‘Walking tightropes: supporting farmer organisations for market access’, ODI Natural Resources Perspectives No. 99, London: Overseas Development Institute <www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access≯ [accessed 22 May 2013]. www.odi.org.uk/publications/1236-walking-tightropes-farmer-organisations-market-access

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2002) Developing Producer Groups and Rural Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe: Issues and Challenges, Rome: FAO.

FAO (2010) ‘Ukraine, agriculture sector, key statistics’ <http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/ index.asp?xml:lang=en&iso3=UKR&subj=4

Grace, D. (2010) ‘Crossfire: “Producer collective, cooperatives and other types of groups are not usually sustainable and do not deliver long-term benefits to smallholders”’, Enterprise Development & Microfinance 21: 93-100 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.2010.009≯.

Millns, J. (2006) Promoting Farmer Entrepreneurship through Producer Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, Institutions for Rural Development Series, Rome: FAO.

Quigley, J. and Jones, L. (2007) Integrating Smallholders into Effective Markets: Inclusive and Sustainable Value Chain Development of the Horticulture Subsector in Crimea and Zaporizhzhia, MEDA Detailed Proposal, Waterloo, Canada: MEDA.

Stockbridge, M. (2003) Farmer Organisations for Market Access: An International Review, London: Department for International Development.

World Bank (2008a) ‘Agriculture, value added (% of GDP)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008b) ‘Agricultural land (% of land area)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.AGRI.ZS/countries

World Bank (2008c) ‘Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)’, 2008 World Development Indicators Online, Data Development Group <http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS≯ [accessed 1 May 2012]. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS

World Bank (2009) Implementing Agriculture for Development, World Bank Group Agriculture Action Plan: FY2010-2012, Washington, DC: World Bank.