As of the 1st of April the European Union drops the dairy quota system so that European producers will be free to produce as much as they want and will export products on the market in Romania.
The disappearance of the milk quotas will affect small producers in our country, and the only solution for them not to be driven out of the market would be to establish strong associations.
The milk quota was introduced precisely because countries like France, Germany or the Netherlands had high milk production which influenced the market in Europe. In order not to be affected by the milk quota abolition, Romanian farmers should unite in strong associations. In Harghita County, the system is already in place.
The farmers associations can access EU funds, collect the milk, can acquire milking equipment to obtain better milk yield and conclude trading contracts on favorable markets.
Experts say that small milk producers should set up small local factories for processing of milk, to cope with the multinationals which once the milk quota is eliminated, may resort to massive imports from other European countries.