Ukraine Dairy Business Development

This project aims to increase the growth of small and medium-sized dairy businesses in Ukraine particularly led by women. It assists 10 000 dairy farmers in 4 of Ukraine’s larger dairy-producing regions (Dnipropetrovsk Ivano-Frankivsk Kherson and Lviv) to improve the quantity and quality of the milk produced establish more successful farm businesses and increase their household incomes. Project activities included: (1) providing training to advisory services companies and participating farmers on business development and environmentally sound farm management; (2) providing technical assistance to two regional milk testing laboratories; (3) providing training to farmers on cooperative best practices; (4) providing equipment and technical assistance to dairy cooperatives; (5) developing a credit guarantee facility for farmers; (6) assisting local agricultural training institutions in developing new courses and curricula for effective and environmentally sustainable dairy farm management; and (7) facilitating dialogue between government and private sector partners to develop policies and programs that support the growth of dairy cooperatives and farms. The current focus of the project’s activities is on completing the construction of a new modern dairy processing plant which can process over 25 000 litres of raw milk per day. The plant aims to support over 2 500 small-scale dairy farmers (1 500 women and 1 000 men) in Ukraine. This project which represents an amendment to a pre-existing project underscores Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s food security and building the resilience of the local dairy sector.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased modern and environmentally sustainable business practices among small and medium-sized dairy businesses particularly led by women; (2) improved cooperation among small and medium-sized dairy businesses to achieve economies of scale and advance democratic values and practices at the grassroots level; and (3) improved enabling environment for small and medium-sized dairy businesses particularly led by women.