In Kazakhstan, approximately 2 million families earn a living in the dairy sector. 80 percent of all milk in Kazakhstan comes from smallholder farmers, who own 4 or fewer cows. In the country’s vast territory, the world’s ninth largest, livestock is an important part of people’s livelihoods and food security.

Applying the power of technology for creative solutions, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has designed and adapted to the dairy context a Collect Mobile app that helps milk processors geo-locate current and potential raw milk suppliers, most of whom are smallholder or family farmers. This connection helps to improve their production and therefore their livelihoods. Ensuring that smallholder farmers are included in agri-food systems is one of FAO’s aims. Inclusive and efficient food systems create better livelihoods and ultimately help to end hunger.