Demand for donkey milk in Georgia continues to grow every year, but producers are unable to fully meet market needs due to limited production capacity. According to Tornike Tepnadze, founder of the donkey farm “Virlandia,” the main challenge for sales growth is not a lack of demand, but insufficient supply.
Tepnadze told BM.GE that demand for donkey milk has increased significantly since 2022 and the trend has continued. While sales are growing compared to previous years, the company often faces shortages, with customers sometimes placed on waiting lists for up to a month.
Currently, “Virlandia” produces around 20-30 liters of donkey milk per day, which is not enough even to satisfy domestic demand. The company has not yet started exporting, as larger production volumes would be required, estimated at around 100 liters per day or more.
The farm currently has approximately 140 donkeys and plans to gradually expand its herd to increase output. Tepnadze said the company purchases donkeys locally and aims to raise production capacity in order to better meet growing consumer demand and eventually enter export markets.
