Minister: Milk production in Ukraine should reach 8 million tonnes in five years

"We are now drafting a relevant program and when we have the final version, we will present our vision of the dairy industry development. Today, we have a clear understanding that we need to produce 6 million tonnes of milk in the industrial sector and 2 million tonnes in the small family farm sector. With systemic investments in a five-year cycle, we can expand this whole paradigm, move away from imports, and develop the domestic producer," Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Roman Leshchenko said during the XIV International Dairy Congress, the press service of the Association of Milk Producers informs.

He noted that the issue of protection of the market from imports was relevant now and stressed that he was determined to protect the Ukrainian market from imported milk, including through the imposition of restrictive duties.

"We conduct appropriate investigations, we examine the analytics, but I want to say that we will definitely protect our market. This is especially true of cheese products, the imports of which are growing exponentially. In January-April this year, we imported cheese products to the tune of UAH 120 million. Over the same period last year, the imports amounted to UAH 90 million. Unfortunately, there is unfair competition and we consider the issue of protective duties for our dairy industry. Not for the whole group of goods, but for certain items. First of all, it will concern cheese products. We will not be able to stop this intervention without protection of market and internal support," the minister stressed.

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