SMZ: Milk Production Down by 7 percent Y-o-Y in Slovakia
Bratislava, December 6 (TASR) – According to the latest reports, milk production in Slovakia has fallen by 7 percent year-on-year, the deepest slump in the EU, milk producers told Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matecna at a meeting on Monday, Slovak Dairy Association (SMZ) president Stanislav Voskar told TASR on Tuesday.
SMZ at the meeting pointed to the “urgent need” to set support for milk production in Slovakia at the European average, which currently stands at 8 cents per kilogram.
Dairy producers also complained to the minister about a lack of balance in profit margins on the part of retailers. Even though milk prices in the shops have gone up recently, farmers and exporters are receiving only crumbs from the table. While the purchase price of milk from farmers is some 25 cents per litre, the retail price is as high as 50 cents.
“This is one of the issues that we’re dealing with at the European level, and it’s one of the priorities of our Presidency of the EU Council. This is about dishonest trading practices,” said Matecna.
SMZ also proposed that Matecna should set up the post of agricultural and food attache at selected Slovak embassies. A similar model is in place in the Czech Republic, with local dairy producers identifying new export opportunities with the help of the Government, said Voskar.
