Representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Union (EU) Delegation, and Sweden joined local women dairy farmers in Tsalka to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event featured a hands-on cheese-making masterclass and highlighted key elements of FAO’s ongoing training programs focused on food safety in small-scale dairy production. The event served to reaffirm the EU, Sweden, and FAO’s commitment to supporting rural women.
The women farmers participating in the event have all received valuable training and financial support aimed at improving their production processes and enhancing food safety through the fourth phase of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD IV).
During the event, the women agricultural producers worked alongside Nicholas Cendrowicz, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Georgia, Elisabet Brandberg from the Embassy of Sweden, and FAO Programme Manager Guido Agostinucci to prepare fresh semi-hard white cheese (Halloumi). They also tested the milk for subclinical mastitis using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) kit. Additionally, milk quality and safety were assessed through Lactoscan, antibiotic, and aflatoxin rapid tests. These activities are part of the FAO training modules under ENPARD IV, which are delivered through the Farmer Field School platform.
Thanks to support from the EU and Sweden under ENPARD IV, the FAO has shared technical knowledge on food safety with over 3,000 women dairy farmers. Of these, 221 farmers are receiving matching grants to upgrade their equipment and facilities to meet improved food safety standards. As a result, these farmers are now better equipped and knowledgeable to produce safer dairy products. Moreover, the smallholder women producers who have used matching grants to purchase food safety-related dairy equipment are seeing improvements in both production efficiency and product quality.
“Georgian women are leading the country’s dairy sector and providing consumers with the dairy products we all enjoy. Today, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day with the women dairy farmers in Tsalka, one of the most active and important regions for dairy production. With the support of the EU and Sweden, FAO has been empowering local dairy farming communities under ENPARD IV by sharing essential knowledge and skills, particularly around food safety. FAO has also made dairy production equipment more accessible through a matching grant program. In Tsalka alone, nearly 135 women dairy farmers have received financial assistance, and we are proud to offer even more opportunities for women to gain knowledge and access finance,” said FAO Programme Manager Guido Agostinucci.
“We’re marking International Women’s Day today in Tsalka with local dairy women farmers. The EU stands strongly with Georgian rural women dairy producers who supply a wide range of cheeses, especially popular in Georgia’s major cities. Access to knowledge and finances can be a challenge for many women in rural areas, and we are proud to continue supporting them in ensuring their products meet the highest safety and quality standards through our successful partnership with Sweden and FAO under ENPARD IV,” said Nicholas Cendrowicz, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Georgia.
“Sweden supports women’s empowerment every day of the year. Today, we have the opportunity to celebrate Georgian women’s contributions to dairy production, highlighting their tireless efforts to provide for their families and the country. With FAO’s food safety training modules and the matching grant program, which Sweden supports under ENPARD IV, hundreds of women farmers are now better equipped to produce higher-quality and higher-value products more efficiently, with less physical strain. This vital work has improved the competitiveness and income potential of the participating women. These women are stronger players in the market than ever before,” said Elisabet Brandberg, Head of Development Cooperation and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden.
About the European Union
For over 30 years, the European Union has built a close partnership with Georgia, supporting its development through knowledge sharing, expertise, innovation, and financial aid. The EU’s relationship with the citizens of Georgia is rooted in shared values of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights, and inclusive economic growth.
About ENPARD
The European Union supports rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Program, aimed at reducing rural poverty. Since its inception in 2013, ENPARD has helped develop the country’s agricultural potential and created economic opportunities for rural populations. Since 2021, the program has also focused on improving food safety in Georgia, with additional support from Sweden and implementation led by FAO and the Czech Development Agency as part of ENPARD IV.
