Dairy market crisis: ministers urge greater collection from local farmers

PRISHTINA — Kosovo’s milk market is going through a tough patch, with regional agriculture ministers calling for greater milk collection from local farmers, Telegrafi reports. The debate has intensified after reports of falling supply and rising retail prices.

Kosovar farmers have argued for months that animal feed, energy and transport costs have climbed, while the farm-gate price for milk has not kept up. This is pushing some farming families to cut their herds.

Processing industry players and the agriculture ministry are looking for ways to better link domestic supply with demand, avoiding dependence on imports and regional price swings.

Support for farms and processing

Solutions on the table include better-targeted subsidies, support for farm modernisation and easier access to milking and cooling equipment. Agricultural experts stress the importance of the cold chain and food safety to open new export markets.

Farmers’ association representatives also flag veterinary controls and food safety as factors that decide the competitiveness of Kosovar milk on the Balkan market.

According to Telegrafi, ministers said boosting collection from local farmers is essential to stabilise the market and reduce reliance on imports, with subsidies needing to flow to active producers.

Without structural intervention, analysts warn, the crisis could turn into a continuous cycle of falling output and rising consumer prices. The government has signalled that a specific package for agriculture and agro-processing is being prepared.

Source: Telegrafi