Improving the Competitiveness of the Dairy Sector

The project aims to assist 3 000 dairy farmers in two districts of Ukraine to improve the quantity and quality of the milk they produce in order to establish more successful farm businesses and raise household incomes. It targets rural households and privately-registered farms as 80% of the country’s milk is produced on farms with an average of only two or three cows. Canadian technical assistance is delivered to farmers through local agricultural extension services providers. Activities include: organizing farmers into dairy cooperatives and training members on how to produce high-quality milk and on business management practices; establishing milk collection centers in participating communities and training their operators on modern laboratory testing techniques; strengthening the capacity of local companies to supply required services to dairy farmers such as seeds fertilizers financing and milk transport. The project also works with dairy processors in each region to market their milk and improve quality control standards. Each region's agriculture ministry manages and coordinates government resources for the project and leads the development of an action plan to guide the dairy industry's growth in their region.