As the world came together to celebrate World Food Day 2024 under the theme, “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future”, a transformative initiative in Tunisia showed how empowering small-scale dairy farmers can have a profound impact on food security.

Since 2022, the country has experienced a shortage of milk - an essential product in Tunisian households and a critical staple in the country’s economy. In response, the EBRD, alongside its local private-sector partner Natilait, has been working to strengthen the dairy value chain through a comprehensive training programme, targeting over 100 dairy cattle farmers, aimed at improving milk quality and quantity, livestock care and farm management.

This initiative is a part of a larger Food and Energy Resilience Programme, co-funded by the USA through the Bank’s Small Business Impact Fund (Italy, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, TaiwanBusiness – EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund – and the USA).

Equipping dairy farmers with knowledge and skills 

This programme stems from the food security roadmap developed by the EBRD in 2023, which identified the dairy sector as a key element for both food security and rural development. After conducting field visits and meeting with stakeholders, the project identified underlying constraints affecting the dairy value chain, including inconsistencies in milk supply in terms of quality and quantity. These bottlenecks have hindered the potential of the sector to meet the country’s growing demand for milk.

To address these challenges, the initiative focused on providing technical training to dairy farmers from three rural regions in Tunisia. The training emphasised building upon farmers’ technical knowledge around good farming practices, hygienic handling of milk, animal health and feeding techniques. The goal was to equip them with the additional skills needed to improve milk yields and ensure that the milk produced met higher quality standards, thereby enhancing the national milk supply.

In addition to the initial training, the programme included on-site mentoring sessions to help farmers apply the best practices they had learned. These follow-up visits allowed experts to guide farmers in real-world conditions, ensuring they could make practical adjustments to their daily protocols based on real-time feedback.

A distinctive aspect of this initiative is its human-centred approach. The programme focused on building trust and collaborative relationships between trainers and farmers. This engagement was vital for ensuring the farmers’ commitments to adopting new practices. Trainers ensured they took the time to understand the specific challenges each farmer faced, tailoring their advice to meet these needs.

Building partnerships for a stronger dairy value chain and a sustainable impact 

A key driver of this initiative’s success has been the collaboration with Natilait one of the largest dairy producers in Tunisia. Natilait played a crucial role in raising awareness about the training programme and actively engaging farmers and milk collection centres. Strengthening these relationships ensured greater participation and fostered a stronger sense of collaboration among everyone involved.

Inclusivity has also been a central feature of the initiative. Although workers in the agricultural sector in Tunisia are predominantly male, efforts were made to involve women in the training. The presence of women farmers is significant due to their crucial role in the daily management of livestock on many farms. Encouraging women’s participation not only contributes to gender equality but also strengthens the resilience of farming households, making this a more inclusive and sustainable effort.

The subsequent phase of the programme will focus on capacity-building activities for the milk collection centres. These centres not only gather and transfer milk to processing units but also act as critical hubs in the dairy value chain. By improving their operational capacity, the initiative aims to streamline the entire system, ensuring that milk is collected, stored, and then transported efficiently under optimal quality conditions.

Looking ahead, the plans include exploring further partnerships, such as involving ICA bankers, to secure financial resources for additional investments in the sector. The long-term goal is to create a sustainable and resilient dairy value chain where all actors, from smallholder farmers to milk processors, benefit from improved connections and greater efficiency. This holistic approach will help strengthen Tunisia’s dairy industry and ensure a more stable milk supply for the country.

A Commitment to a Better Future 

As we reflect on World Food Day, this initiative is a testament to the power of investing in people, training and collaboration. By equipping farmers with the tools, knowledge and support they need to thrive, the EBRD and its partners are not only enhancing food security in Tunisia but also fostering human connections, embracing inclusivity, and empowering rural communities to build sustainable livelihoods.