“Japan and UNIDO Revitalize Dairy Farming among Vulnerable Populations in Iraq”

She reminisced about having once lived a simple and peaceful life in the heart of her Yezidi ancestral homeland. Her family, deeply rooted in dairy farming, worked the land and tended to their goats to maintain their livelihood. 

However, their lives were torn apart when the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) forces invaded Sinjar on 3 August 2014. Alongside thousands of other displaced Yezidis, Shukria’s family sought refuge in the town of Sharia, located in Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, struggling to rebuild their lives amidst the devastation. 

The trauma of displacement was compounded by financial hardship. Shukria’s father, once the family’s sole provider, is now unable to work due to a herniated disk, which left her older brother to take her father’s place as the family’s breadwinner. However, her brother was unable to find stable employment and his irregular work made it difficult for the family of eight to make ends meet.

To survive, Shukria and her siblings turned to the family’s only remaining resource, their small herd of goats. Using traditional methods, they began using goat milk to produce yogurt and cheese to sell within her community. While the dairy products brought in some income, it still wasn’t enough to sustain the entire family. “We tried hard, but it was never enough,” Shukria stated. “We knew the quality was good, but we lacked the skills and equipment to take our business further.”

That all changed when Shukria learned about a dairy training programme offered by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), supported by funding from the Government of Japan. Determined to improve her family’s situation, Shukria enrolled in the training, which proved to be a turning point for her and her family.

The training provided Shukria with modern dairy production techniques that were revolutionary compared to the traditional methods her family had previously relied on. She learned about temperature control, hygiene, and pH testing, skills that directly improved the quality of her products. “Even small changes in cleanliness and technique made a big difference in the quality of my products,” she explained. 

Also included in the training were sessions on entrepreneurship development. This training, together with new equipment Shukria received, allowed her to increase production capacity. With the new tools, including stainless steel strainers, digital scales, and large cooking pots, she was able to produce more yogurt and cheese, and at a higher quality, helping her command better prices in the market.

“The training opened my eyes to how much more I could achieve through my dairy business,” Shukria said. “Before, we relied on the traditional ways we knew in dairy production, but with new techniques, we’re producing more efficiently and selling better products.” Thanks to the larger cooking pots and strainers, Shukria increased her yogurt production from 10 kg per day to 15 kg, depending on the season. The family slowly began to see an improvement in their financial situation, as the increased output led to a more reliable income.

Shukria now dreams of expanding the family’s goat herd one day, which will enhance her dairy business, further boosting production and generating more income for her family. “We want to grow, but it has to be in a way that we can sustain.”

Shukria’s outlook remains more positive than ever. She has become part of a close-knit community of dairy producers, thanks to the Japan – UNIDO programme. “We created a community of dairy producers,” she said proudly. “Sharing tips and encouragement with others who are going through the same struggles keeps me motivated.”

Shukria also dreams of one day returning to her homeland in Sinjar, where she believes there will be more opportunities to grow her business. “I can already imagine my goats grazing on the lands my ancestors farmed,” she shared. “My hope is to expand the business and employ others from my community who share my passion.”

Shukria’s story is one of many following the support from Japan and UNIDO. It is also a story of resilience and hope. Through her passion to work in dairy production and with the support of Japan and UNIDO, she is building a better future for herself and her family, one batch of yogurt and cheese at a time.

UNIDO’s "Emergency livelihood support to mitigate the food insecurity crisis among vulnerable peoples in Iraq" project, funded by the government of Japan, has been a lifeline for internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, host communities, and women entrepreneurs, particularly those struggling to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of conflict. 

By equipping participants with essential skills in modern production techniques, hygiene standards, and market strategies, the programme has been successful in enhancing participants’ capacity to thrive in the competitive business environment. 

Beyond the comprehensive training, the project provided tangible in-kind support, such as tools and equipment, enabling participants to immediately apply their new knowledge and scale up their businesses. This integrated approach empowered each of the trainees, especially women, to not only secure livelihoods but also contribute to the local economy, fostering resilience in their communities and reducing the strain of food insecurity.