Matching grants boost productivity and food safety for over 1 100 women farmers in Georgia

08/05/2026

Georgian women dairy farmers are modernizing traditional milk production with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through small-scale matching grants provided under the European Union (EU)- and Sweden-funded European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) IV.

Notably, this is the first time FAO has reached more than 1 000 matching-grant beneficiaries under a single project. The initiative has supported over 1 100 women engaged in small-scale dairy farming across the country, enabling access to essential equipment and knowledge that improve quality standards, consumer protection, traceability, and incomes. 

Dairy production remains a key source of income for rural households in Georgia and is often managed primarily by women. It is also a highly labour-intensive activity, relying heavily on manual processes and limited access to modern equipment for milking, milk handling, cooling, and hygiene control. These constraints affect both productivity and farmers' ability to consistently meet food safety standards and market expectations.

Through this support, women farmers have co-invested in milking machines, milk cans, cooling tanks, pasteurizers, vacuum packagers, and basic milk testing and processing equipment. These investments help reduce physical workload, improve hygiene practices and support more stable, higher-quality dairy production.

Improved efficiency and reduced physical workload

For 63-year-old schoolteacher Meri Gagua, who has been engaged in dairy farming for more than two decades and manages nine cows, the introduction of milking equipment has significantly changed her daily routine.

Before receiving the equipment, manual milking required considerable time and physical effort, especially alongside other household and agricultural responsibilities.

“I used to milk five or six cows by hand. It took a lot of time and effort. Now the machine does it in five minutes. I can milk two cows in five minutes,” Meri says.

The reduction in manual labour has allowed her to better manage time between dairy work and other daily responsibilities. In addition to efficiency gains, she highlights improvements in hygiene and milk quality.

“The milk is cleaner now. It is protected from dirt and bacteria,” she says. “My customers know this, and I never lack demand.”

With increased efficiency, her household has also been able to maintain a larger herd than would have been possible under manual milking conditions.

Strengthening food safety and preparation for processing

For Marine Kavtelashvili, who has expanded her dairy production in recent years and now manages 16 cows, the support has contributed not only to improved efficiency but also to stronger food safety practices and preparation for small-scale processing.

Alongside milking equipment, she received a milk-cooling tank, a pasteurizer, and milk-testing tools, which she considers essential for monitoring, improving product quality, and strengthening consumer trust.

The household also uses a milk analyser to assess milk fat content, helping compare breed differences and make more informed production decisions. Marine notes that newly acquired breeds tend to produce higher-fat milk, resulting in higher cheese yield and improved production efficiency.

“We now ensure better food safety,” she says. “It is a matter of pride that we produce dairy products from milk obtained with improved hygiene standards.”

The household is now preparing to move toward small-scale dairy processing, which is expected to further increase value addition and improve productivity.

“We are now building a small production space. With these machines, production will become easier, and we will need less labour.”

She also notes that improved hygiene and milk quality have strengthened consumer trust, an important factor in local market competitiveness.

Expanding production and improving competitiveness

For Nana Ghvaladze, 62, who has been engaged in dairy farming for six to seven years and manages around 20 milking cows, the introduction of milking machines and cooling systems has had a direct impact on both productivity and herd expansion.

“We increased the number of cows because now we can milk all of them. My hands used to hurt. We worked all day and night. Without the machine, this would not be possible,” she says.

She also emphasizes improvements in milk hygiene compared to manual milking, where contamination risks were higher.

“With machines, clean milk goes straight into the container. It is much better than milking by hand.”

The household is now considering expanding into value-added dairy products, including traditional Sulguni cheese varieties, to meet growing market demand.

Across all three households, the introduction of FAO-supported equipment has led to consistent improvements in efficiency, food safety, and production capacity. Reduced manual labour has enabled farmers to expand their herds, while improved hygiene practices have strengthened product quality and consumer trust.

These changes are particularly significant in the context of rural women’s roles in dairy production, where time, labour, and access to appropriate technology directly influence productivity, income, and further economic opportunities.

The ENPARD IV programme, funded by the European Union and Sweden and implemented by FAO, continues to support women and smallholder farmers in Georgia in improving productivity, food safety standards and market access, also through training opportunities. By investing in knowledgeable producers, the programme contributes to more resilient rural livelihoods and safer, more competitive local food systems.

From non-alcoholic rosehip beer to hazelnut, cereal, and wine production, farmers across Georgia have received small, medium, and large-sized matching grants to improve the inclusiveness and sustainability of their value chain.