A three-day workshop on strengthening the capacity of dairy value chain actors through horizontal and vertical integration was successfully conducted from 3–5 June 2026 at Hotel Holiday Home, Paro. The workshop brought together Dairy Farmers’ Group (DFG) committee members, Gewog Livestock Supervisor (GLS) representatives from World Bank RNR Jobs Project areas, and technical officials from the National Dairy Development Centre (NDDC) and the Department of Livestock (DoL).
The workshop aimed to prom_ote the development of strong and sustainable farmers’ institutions by enhancing collaboration among dairy value chain actors and strengthening linkages across production, collection, processing, and marketing functions.
The participants were selected from among those who had previously undertaken an exposure visit to Anand, Gujarat, India, where they gained valuable insights into dairy cooperative governance, farmer-owned institutions, and integrated dairy value chain management.
The specific objectives of the workshop were to:
- Share lessons and best practices learned from Anand on dairy cooperative governance, member engagement, and integrated dairy value chain management, including milk collection, processing, and marketing.
• Conduct stakeholder analyses at regional and Agro-Ecological Zone (AEZ) levels to identify opportunities for expanding and strengthening existing dairy farmers’ groups and cooperatives to achieve economies of scale and commercialization.
• Develop area-specific action plans to strengthen local dairy institutions, improve member services, and enhance the efficiency and sustainability of dairy value chains.
A total of 16 participants attended the workshop, comprising six representatives from Dairy Farmers’ Groups, four Gewog Livestock Supervisors, one representative from the Department of Livestock, and five officials from the National Dairy Development Centre.
The workshop followed a structured three-day programme consisting of:
- Technical presentations and group discussions on dairy cooperative development, value chain integration, and institutional strengthening.
• A field visit to the Milk Processing Unit (MPU) to observe the dairy value chain in practice and interact with local value chain stakeholders.
• Participatory stakeholder analysis and action planning sessions focused on mapping actor networks, identifying constraints and opportunities, and formulating strategic interventions to strengthen dairy value chains.
The workshop provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of dairy value chain processes and highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement, collective action, and institutional development in enhancing dairy production and marketing. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening both horizontal integration among farmers and vertical integration across the value chain to improve efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability.
The area-specific action plans developed during the workshop are expected to guide future interventions aimed at strengthening dairy farmers’ groups and cooperatives, improving service delivery to members, and building resilient and commercially viable farmers’ institutions across the project areas.
