Since the beginning of 2013, it was produced about 2.1 million tons of milk by all types of farms. It is 24.5 thousand tons more against last year. Thus, agricultural enterprises have produced 581 thousand tons and farm cooperatives have produced more than 1.5 million tons. In order to improve the quality of milk produced by farmers and provide its purchase price growth the State continues to compensate the cost of purchased milking machines and supports the creation of family farms and cooperatives. This was announced by Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

«Since January 2013 it was produced about 2.1 million tons of milk by all categories of farms. It is 24.5 thousand tons more than last year. The largest amount of milk was produced by farm cooperatives (1.5 million tons). Agricultural enterprises have produced 581thousand tons of milk, which is 2.8% more than last year,» said Mykola Prysyazhnyuk.

The Minister has added that milk production at the farm cooperatives is stable. Besides, the milk quality improvement remains a key issue. It will provide the purchase price increase.

«Currently, milk purchased from the farm cooperatives is on average 2552 UAH/ ton. However, it is the second quality milk. And to receive more money they should increase its quality. Effective economic methods can do this. Thus, the State will continue to compensate the costs of purchased milking machines by farmers. Since the beginning of the year within this program it was paid over 3 million UAH,» informed Mykola Prysyazhnyuk.

The Minister has also stressed that family farms and milk cooperatives will solve this problem, too. They will apply modern technologies for milk production and this will ensure high purchase prices.

Press Service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine