On 10-12 September 2017, with the support of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) a Dairy Forum was hold in Kobuleti, Adjara.   

The Forum was organised in the scope of the ENPARD project “Enhancing Small Farmers’ Cooperation and productivity in Imereti and Racha Region” by the ENPARD implementing organisation “People in Need” in partnership with the Association of Young Economists of Georgia (AYEG) - member of the project implementing consortium.

 As a result of the forum main challenges/needs in the dairy sector are identified and based on them recommendations are elaborated, which will be provided to the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, Agricultural Cooperatives Development Agency, National Food Agency and other relevant agencies, in order to support the field development. 

 The participants of the forum had the opportunity to discuss concerns/problems about sector related issues and identify the ways of effective solutions.

The following issues were discussed during the forum:

• Current situation on the diary market in Georgia;
• Competition between cooperatives and individual farmers;
• Problems/challenges on the primary production stage;
• The need of renewal of livestock species;
• Availability of laboratory services;
• Regulations in dairy sector-problems and challenges;
• The most common livestock diseases in Georgia and the way to combat them;
• Uncontrolled landfills, one of the factors that hinders dairy sector development and others.

The Forum is a coordination platform for any parties interested in dairy sector or business development. The sectoral forum aims at improving policy environment in the dairy production and processing sectors to make the markets and service more accessible for cooperatives and individual farmers/agribusinesses. The forum is initiated as a tool of public dialogue around dairy sector development and establishment of permanent coordination mechanism for promotion and effective implementation of dairy value chain supporting policies and programs.

The European Union is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in the country. For more information please visit www.enpard.ge

Media Contact:

• Mariam Jibuti, Project Manager, + 995 95 04 08 01, m.jibuti@economists.ge
• Tamar Khuntsaria, Team Leader, ENPARD Communication Unit, +995 595 98 99 16, tamar.k@actionprgroup.com