Dairy Sector Value Chain and Production in Southern Serbia

This report presents the results of an intensive situation and impact assessment of the Serbian dairy value chain, undertaken in March 2007. It aims to evaluate the dairy value chain in 17 southern Serbia municipalities covered by Mercy Corps under the USAID-funded Community Revitalization Through Democratic Action (CRDA) program.

The assessment examines the critical links in the value chain - production, collection and transport, processing, and sales and marketing - and presents a situation assessment as well as the impact, results and findings of Mercy Corps' interventions in the dairy sector from 2001-2007.

The goals of this assessment are to:

• Present a comprehensive, quantitative understanding of the dairy sector in southern Serbia;
• Identify value chain bottlenecks and the opportunities for investment and assistance that will facilitate sector growth in most the cost-effective, highest impact manner;
• Evaluate CRDA interventions and strategies from 2001-2007 to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of investments; and
• Provide and field test an assessment template and methodology that can be used for future program and sector assessments.