EBRD and Donors Partner to Strengthen Tunisia's Dairy Value Chain Amid Milk Shortage
Source: DairyNews.today
As the world marked World Food Day 2024 under the theme, "Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future," a significant initiative in Tunisia is making strides in enhancing food security by empowering small-scale dairy farmers.
This initiative, spearheaded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in partnership with local private-sector player Natilait, aims to strengthen Tunisia’s dairy value chain, a critical component of the country’s economy and food supply.
Tunisia has faced a persistent milk shortage since 2022, a challenge that has affected both households and the broader economy. In response, the EBRD launched a comprehensive training programme designed to improve milk production quality and quantity, livestock care, and farm management practices for over 100 dairy farmers. This initiative is part of the larger Food and Energy Resilience Programme, co-funded by the USA through the EBRD's Small Business Impact Fund, with contributions fr om various donor countries including Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, and others.
The EBRD’s 2023 food security roadmap identified the dairy sector as a key lever for bolstering food security and rural development in Tunisia. After assessing the local dairy supply chain, the project highlighted several bottlenecks, including inconsistent milk quality and quantity, which have limited the sector’s ability to meet rising consumer demand.
To address these challenges, the initiative focused on delivering technical training to dairy farmers from three rural regions in Tunisia. The training aimed to enhance farmers' knowledge of best practices in milk handling, animal health, and feeding techniques. By improving these key areas, the programme sought to raise milk yields and ensure the milk produced met higher quality standards, thus stabilizing the national milk supply.
Beyond the initial training, the programme provided on-site mentoring sessions, wh ere experts worked alongside farmers to implement the new practices in real-world settings. These follow-up visits allowed farmers to receive tailored guidance and real-time feedback, further reinforcing their learning and helping them make necessary adjustments.
A distinguishing feature of the programme is its human-centred approach, emphasizing trust and collaboration between trainers and farmers. By fostering strong relationships, the initiative ensured higher engagement and commitment from farmers, as the advice provided was tailored to their specific needs and challenges.
This comprehensive effort is expected to not only alleviate Tunisia’s milk shortage but also strengthen the resilience of the dairy sector in the long term, contributing to improved food security across the country.
Tunisia has faced a persistent milk shortage since 2022, a challenge that has affected both households and the broader economy. In response, the EBRD launched a comprehensive training programme designed to improve milk production quality and quantity, livestock care, and farm management practices for over 100 dairy farmers. This initiative is part of the larger Food and Energy Resilience Programme, co-funded by the USA through the EBRD's Small Business Impact Fund, with contributions fr om various donor countries including Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, and others.
The EBRD’s 2023 food security roadmap identified the dairy sector as a key lever for bolstering food security and rural development in Tunisia. After assessing the local dairy supply chain, the project highlighted several bottlenecks, including inconsistent milk quality and quantity, which have limited the sector’s ability to meet rising consumer demand.
To address these challenges, the initiative focused on delivering technical training to dairy farmers from three rural regions in Tunisia. The training aimed to enhance farmers' knowledge of best practices in milk handling, animal health, and feeding techniques. By improving these key areas, the programme sought to raise milk yields and ensure the milk produced met higher quality standards, thus stabilizing the national milk supply.
Beyond the initial training, the programme provided on-site mentoring sessions, wh ere experts worked alongside farmers to implement the new practices in real-world settings. These follow-up visits allowed farmers to receive tailored guidance and real-time feedback, further reinforcing their learning and helping them make necessary adjustments.
A distinguishing feature of the programme is its human-centred approach, emphasizing trust and collaboration between trainers and farmers. By fostering strong relationships, the initiative ensured higher engagement and commitment from farmers, as the advice provided was tailored to their specific needs and challenges.
This comprehensive effort is expected to not only alleviate Tunisia’s milk shortage but also strengthen the resilience of the dairy sector in the long term, contributing to improved food security across the country.
