Quality Services Improve Business: Azerbaijan

Mercy Corps implemented the Cluster Access to Business Services (CABS) program supported by USAID in Azerbaijan. This note discusses the program that was initiated to address the high production costs to farmers due to poor animal health and low breeding rates.

Some of the achievements of the program, over the last three years, have been:

• Partnering with animal health service providers to provide reliable veterinary services;
• Developing farmer clusters and providing access to various veterinary services;
• Training and offering credit services to small animal holders;
• Facilitating the development and management of regional veterinary networks.

The following activities are part of the program:

• Marketing and business management trainings for the veterinary network members;
• Linking with technical resources to improve expertise;
• Gathering information about new treatment technologies;
• Linking the network to a specific local dealer of pharmaceuticals.

The note provides an insight into the enterprises of two participant veterinarians. They mention the following achievements on account of the program:

• Gaining know-how on running a small business;
• Understanding strategies for marketing services;
• Procuring quality medicines through linkages;
• Providing superior services.

According to them, as their entrepreneurial initiatives flourish, they have graduated to:

• Providing customized services;
• Diversifying to other brands of medicines;
• Growing the business to reach more people.

The note concludes by saying that USAID has awarded the CABS program an additional US $1.2 million grant.