On September 30, Association of Young Economists of Georgia (PIN consortium) within the framework of EU financed ENPARD project hosted dairy sectoral forum in Kutaisi, Hotel “Bagrati”.

The forum was attended by representatives of Agricultural Cooperatives Development Agency, National Food Agency, Imereti Regional Division of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, Information-Consultation Centers, representatives of ENPARD consortia members, dairy farmers and cooperatives.

The participants of the forum had the opportunity to get familiar with government programs and plans worked out for diary sector. Sector related concerns and the ways of their effective solutions were voiced out and discussed by the attendees.

The following issues were discussed:

• Current situation on the diary market in Georgia;
• Problems/challenges on the primary production stage;
• The lack of professionals, especially veterinarians;
• The need of renewal of livestock species;
• The need for rational use of pastures;
• Challenges for diary cooperatives;
• The ways of improvement of governmental programs and etc.

Discussions during the forum encourages formation and development of permanent public dialogue tool. Forum is a coordination platform for any parties interested in dairy sector or business development. The sectoral forum aims at improving policy environment in the dairy production and processing sectors to make the markets and service more accessible for cooperatives and individual farmers/agribusinesses. The forum was initiated as a tool of public dialogue around dairy sector development and establishment of permanent coordination mechanism for promotion and effective implementation of dairy value chain supporting policies and programs.