Rural women in Kosovo strengthen livelihoods through livestock care trainings

With stronger knowledge in livestock care and feeding, women from rural areas of Kosovo¹ are improving their livelihoods and taking the lead in transforming their communities. From June through October 2025, more than 100 rural women from the municipalities of Istog/Istok, south Mitrovica and Skenderaj/Srbica participated in hands-on trainings designed to improve cow health, enhance milk quality and increase household incomes through better livestock management. Conducted directly on participants’ farms, the sessions helped women strengthen both productivity and sustainability on their farms through practical experience in stable hygiene, feeding, milk handling, disease prevention and calf care.

Despite that women are heavily involved in the Kosovo dairy production sector, various barriers limit their access to rural advisory services and training opportunities. For Sadije Preteni, an experienced farmer from south Mitrovica, the training solidified the knowledge she’d gained through decades of experience. She has been raising cows for more than 25 years, providing essential income for her family and supporting their daily needs and education.

“I have always kept cows,” she said. “With them, we sustain our family – food, schooling and daily life. It is not easy, but together with my son, we manage.”

Through FAO’s on-farm sessions, Sadije is determined to improve feeding and hygiene practices that help her maintain healthier animals and increase milk quality.

“Through the training,” she said, “I enjoyed learning alongside other women, exchanging experiences and especially learning how to provide the best possible feed for our cows.”

A series of thematic on-farm sessions provided women farmers with up-to-date knowledge and skills on how to boost dairy production. This initiative is part of the Promoting Rural Women’s Empowerment in Kosovo project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Women, with support from the Austrian Development Agency.  The project improves women’s economic opportunities through skills training, provides equipment for agricultural entrepreneurship, and enables access to competitive and sustainable agriculture. Other key strategies include addressing gender-based violence, closing gender gaps in rural development, and ensuring that women have a stronger voice in their communities.

“The trainings for rural women are essential for strengthening their knowledge and skills in livestock care and feeding, improving household livelihoods and contributing to community development,” said Armanda Jahja, local project manager. “Together with the project’s other activities, they empower women to play a more active role in the rural economy, supporting greater inclusion, resilience and sustainable growth.”

Empowering rural women is essential for inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, and these FAO-led trainings have been highly valued by both trainers and participants.

“These trainings are very important,” said Xhavit Shala, trainer and livestock expert. “Especially the practical demonstrations on farms, because participants see and experience everything directly. Feeding inefficiencies are common, and proper nutrition can make a big difference in milk production. Women who take care of livestock play a key role in successful farms.”

Shala said that feeding mistakes remain common among small-scale farmers in Kosovo due to limited knowledge, lack of machinery and storage facilities, and weather conditions that reduce hay quality. Many farmers still rely on traditional feeding practices because they lack the means to produce or preserve high-quality feed.

“Hay is often cut late because of rain or poor weather, which lowers its nutritional value,” Shala said. “Without proper equipment and storage, farmers struggle to ensure balanced feeding, and this directly affects milk production.”
Although women are actively involved in livestock care, farm tasks and decisions on feeding and hay management are shared within families.

“Women and men work together, but both often lack sufficient knowledge and resources,” Shala said. “Farmers generally cut hay only once a year, and frequent rainfall during spring reduces its quality. Without proper drying conditions, hay loses much of its nutritional value.”

Through both theoretical and practical sessions held directly on farms, the training helped participants improve feeding practices and manage their farm activities more efficiently. Farmers learned how to better dry and preserve hay by using short sunny intervals, and they learned how to balance feed mixtures with minerals and vitamins.

Another participant, Emine Preteni, a farmer from Melenicë/Melenica, manages a large herd of cows. Each day, she oversees feeding, milking and overall herd care, coordinating with her son and other family members to maintain the stable and ensure the animals remain healthy. For her, the trainings opened new perspectives.

“We currently have 23 cows, and four more will be added this month,” Emine said. “My son built the stable, and we take care of the herd together. Participating in these trainings taught me important skills, especially in milking, and allowed me to connect with other women and explore new opportunities. With family support, we can secure a better income and improve our farm.”

By applying what she has learned, Emine has improved herd management and milk handling, helping her family strengthen their farm’s sustainability.

These experiences highlight how practical training, knowledge sharing and access to resources empower rural women to transform their farms and communities. By supporting women farmers, Kosovo strengthens its rural economy, promotes sustainable livelihoods and fosters greater equality and resilience in its villages.

¹References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).