CheeseUp: Transforming Armenia’s Dairy Sector, One Village at a Time

In Armenia’s mountainous Lori region, an agricultural revolution has given a jolt to one of the country’s most promising burgeoning industries—dairy.

As part of the Children of Armenia Fund’s (COAF) economic development initiatives, COAF launched CheeseUp in September 2021—a four-year initiative aimed at building a fully integrated dairy value chain across six rural communities: Chkalov, Debet, Dzoragyugh, Dsegh, Vahagni, and Yeghgnut.

Developed in partnership with the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), the ambitious project is grounded in the everyday needs of rural families: to boost productivity, improve livelihoods, and create real opportunities—this time, with high-quality Armenian cheese as the driver.

Our Goal

CheeseUp was designed to revitalize Armenia’s dairy sector by creating a fully integrated, sustainable model with long-term economic and social impact. The key objectives of the project were to:

• Ensure an efficient and sustainable agriculture system that improves living standards in rural communities
• Train at least 200 farmers in:
  
  • Livestock feed production
  • Milk production
  • Breeding improvement
• Establish two new businesses for high-value cheese production, creating a replicable model in rural Armenia
• Boost marketing and exports of premium cheeses and related dairy products
• Significantly increase the income of over 200 farmers participating in the project

What started as a bold vision has now exceeded expectations, taking on a life of its own. This is the journey of CheeseUp—and the communities it continues to transform.

Starting From the Ground Up—Abandoned Lands

Like all COAF community-based programs, CheeseUp began with conversations, not assumptions. COAF listened primarily to the needs of the local population, conducted field research, and partnered with agricultural experts. Most families in these villages were already engaged in animal husbandry, horticulture, and crop cultivation—but they were doing so under outdated or inefficient conditions.

The six participating communities had over 400 hectares of agricultural land at their disposal—but much of it had long been abandoned. Years of disuse left farmers without access to even the most basic agricultural machinery, making it nearly impossible to sow crops, produce proper livestock feed, or improve milk yield.

Empowering Farmers Through Mechanization & Cooperatives (Co-Ops)

COAF helped form and equip three agricultural cooperatives, providing access to machinery that would otherwise be unaffordable to individual farmers. These cooperatives:

• Foster local ownership and sustainability
• Enable large-scale fodder production
• Improve livestock care with modern equipment

COAF also provided seeds and fertilizers for 200 hectares to kickstart fodder cultivation. The response from farmers was immediate and enthusiastic. Within two years, they had reinvested their early profits to double the cultivated land to 400 hectares—a powerful, unplanned-for ripple effect of local commitment and trust in the program.

“When you see a farmer who once gave up on agriculture begin to believe again — invest in their land, adopt new methods, and plan for the future — you realize that even a small intervention can ignite lasting change and uplift entire communities.”
— Luiza Sevuni, Project Manager, CheeseUp

What began as a logistical solution quickly evolved into a transformative shift in land use, food production, and community agency.

Land Reclamation & Crop Management

To support sustainable livestock development, COAF had to ensure proper access to fodder. That meant:

• 400+ hectares of abandoned land brought back into cultivation
• Key crops grown: barley, alfalfa, oats, and corn
• 200+ families actively engaged in land cultivation and management

This foundational step not only supported the dairy value chain—it also restored livelihoods for hundreds of farming households.

Over 800 Calves Raised

With feed secured, it was time to upgrade the dairy herds. Using artificial insemination, local farmers were introduced to high-yielding, resilient cow breeds, such as Holstein and Brown Swiss, chosen specifically for their adaptability to the Armenian climate and environment. Soon, healthier cows (the 800 new breeds as well as the beneficiary communities’ existing cattle), began to produce higher-quality milk in higher quantities, enabling farmers to produce more and earn more.

Launching 2 Dairy Factories to Revive Industry

Scaling dairy production requires modern processing. COAF renovated and equipped two cheese production facilities—one in Dsegh and one in Dzoragyugh—jointly with the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), and with support from the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

These upgrades included:

• Renovation of the facilities according to Food Safety standards
• Food-safety-compliant milk processing equipment
• 25 new jobs created at the two facilities

Processing capacity has now tripled, creating new income streams while ensuring product quality. 

Introducing: Lemontani

COAF then developed full-packaged branding for both of these production sites from Dsegh and ‘Dulchiz’ from Dzoragyugh) and ensured entry into the market, including the biggest supermarkets in Armenia and a few outlets in Georgia.

In 2022, we launched the label to come out of the production in Dsegh, Lemontani—a 100% natural dairy brand representing the new face of rural Armenian cheese. With its quality rooted in local milk, premium techniques, and community-driven production, Lemontani reflects the essence of the CheeseUp model: local products with global potential.

Upskilling Farmers and Building Know-How

People are the heart of transformation. That’s why COAF invested in comprehensive hands-on training programs:

Training Sessions Included:

• Animal husbandry
• Crop production
• Cheese-making techniques (including high-value cheeses like gouda, cheddar, and suluguni)
• Branding & market access

International experts from programs like USAID Farmer to Farmer, AGRI CAMP, Swiss Senior Expert Services (SES), and PUM (The Netherlands), helped deliver tailored, practical workshops in each village.

Early Results & Community Impact

CheeseUp is already changing the landscape—literally and economically.

Here’s what’s been achieved so far:

• 400+ hectares of abandoned land restored
• 800+ cows inseminated
• 200+ families engaged in cultivation and animal husbandry
• 70–80% of feed needs now met locally
• 2 operational cheese plants producing premium cheese
• 25 new jobs created in cheese production
• 20–30 additional jobs created in related sectors (farming, logistics, etc.)
• Significant increase in milk output and income for participating farmers

Why It Matters

Throughout the COAF community, we are deeply proud of this initiative because it is more than a development project—it’s a blueprint for rural revitalization that can achieve:

• Sustainable Livelihoods: Better breeds, better feed, better income
• Rural Resilience: Idle land turned into productive fields
• Market Integration: Lori cheeses entering national and global markets
• Ongoing Capacity Building: Skills that will last far beyond the project

Conclusion: From Grassroots to Grassfed Growth

CheeseUp has done more than improve production—it has restored dignity and economic opportunity to rural Armenian families. Through strategic investment in people, land, and infrastructure, COAF and AMAA have co-created a model that’s scalable, sustainable, and profoundly human-centered.

And at the heart of it all? Families who believed in something bigger, villages that came back to life, and high-quality cheeses from the Armenian highlands you just have to try for yourself.