FAO Training on Processing and Marketing of Traditional Dairy Products

FAO project ”Support to livelihoods of rural and peri-urban returnees and communities in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq, funded by the European Union and implemented in close cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture, organized a series of trainings "Improving the Processing and Marketing of Traditional Dairy Products" for the purpose of developing the value chain of milk production, processing, and marketing of traditional dairy at the home level to open the horizons for local dairy production, as well as enabling rural women to restore livelihoods with producing and marketing local dairy products to attract investments and the private sector.   

These series of activities and trainings come as a complementary step within the framework of FAO practical training courses that lasted for a period of six months to involve 50 women groups (1,000 women) from all project target sites in Nineveh Governorate.   Participants gained techniques on good practices of handling and processing dairy in the trainings, while implementing an illustrative practical demonstration for making traditional dairy products (Laban, cheese, butter, ghee, labneh). This introduction of new techniques on how to make different types of cheese, to get healthy and safe dairy products along with ideas for making great products that can be competitive in the market. Also, participants received training on the correct milking methods for cows and buffaloes and how to follow the steps of milk hygiene and animal health standards.