Promoting Kosovo Dairy Products Starts at an Early Age

An educational visit to Eurolona dairy farm and milk processor by five-and six-year-old children from Fatosat kindergarten in Pristina was a successful promotion of domestically produced dairy products.

The April visit, organized by USAID's Kosovo Private Enterprise Program, provided an opportunity for the children to see how the milk they consume is produced and encourage them to consume more dairy products for a healthy diet. Eurolona, in addition to milking their own cows, runs their own dairy processing plant. It is hoped such visits will help overcome the negative image of locally produced dairy products, as many people in Kosovo today purchase imported milk and dairy products.

The kindergarten's visit to Eurolona was also an opportunity to promote better understanding of, and increase loyalty to, domestically produced dairy products. With USAID's assistance, Eurolona is producing a new variety of yogurt drink and yogurt, now available in Kosovo markets, as well as their first white cheese.

The Kosovo Private Enterprise Program is helping to modernize Kosovo's dairy industry, increasing sales and employment. The four-year initiative aims to stimulate the competitiveness of Kosovo's private sector. The program, implemented by Booz Allen Hamilton, provides technical assistance to targeted sectors through grants and consulting, supports business enabling reform efforts, expands workforce development and training, and strengthens business services and associations.