CALL FOR RETURNEES FROM ABROAD TO INVEST IN CHEESE PRODUCTION

3. June 2020.

Belgrade - The national team for the revival of Serbian villages called on returnees from abroad and all other interested citizens to invest in cheese-making, establish agricultural farms and join specialized cheese-making cooperatives, which will be able to apply for incentive funds within the "500 Cooperatives in 500 Villages" program.

The Co-President of the National Team, Minister Milan Krkobabic, believes that investing in cheese production is very profitable, and that the earnings from cheese-making are at least two to three times higher than those from the sale of raw milk, the Minister without a Portfolio in Charge of Regional Development said in a statement.

Minister Krkobabic underscores that cheese production is a great development opportunity, but only if the producers join cooperatives. He pointed to the fact that Serbia exported more cheese than it imported it by as much as 17.6 million euros, adding that that showed that Serbia had a great potential in that economic branch.

There is no specialized cheese plant in Serbia in which only cheeses are produced, while the number of mini dairies with a capacity of up to 5,000 liters of milk per day, of which there were more than 200 in our country until a few years ago, has been reduced to less than 100 active ones, due to the reduction in the number of milking cows and milk production.

As he notes, the traditional dairy industry can be preserved through the manufacturing of local products, which provides a chance to export characteristic types of cheese from our region.

The return of the invested money can be expected in 3 to 5 years, which depends on whether the cheese producer has his own milk or buys it; it was said in the statement.

Also said in the statement was that the facilities for making cheese could be craft workshops, mini dairies and cooperative dairies.

The equipment for a mini dairy in a craft workshop costs from 3,000 to 5,000 euros, while the equipment for a cooperative cheese plant costs from 20,000 to 50,000 euros, depending on the capacity and degree of automation.

Source: RTV and Coordination Body