Micro Dairies

Micro-Dairy Integration; $2,000,000

As a vertical integration program, establishment of safe and sanitary Micro-Dairies promotes local organization capacity building, best agricultural management practices, and food safety. Distributed throughout Kirkuk Province, these small, 1,500 liter per day diaries put product quality control and management into the hands of the farmers.

James led the team that developed the micro-dairy program, providing four separate ethnic groups in Kirkuk Province basic and self-contained diary processing equipment. Each micro dairy supports over 100 cows and enables small farmer cooperatives to be formed around each micro dairy and promoting vertical integration and best management practices. Total project cost was approximately $3 million of which the Iraqi framer cooperatives paid approximately 30% ($1 million) in set up cost, energy development and supply, and water and waste management systems.

Related Testimonies/Recommendations:

• Burdin Hickok, Economic Development Section Head, Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team, US Department of State.