The milk problem

It was offered to raise the purchase price for milk from private households – KZ 80 for a liter.

According to the latest data, the purchase price of milk from private households in Pavlodar region is no more than KZ 70. At the same time, in East Kazakhstan and Kostanay regions small producers are paid KZ 80-100 for a liter.

“Buying milk at KZ 70, after processing and packing our enterprises sell it almost twice as much. Today, the average purchase price of milk from private households is KZ 66 and we offer to increase it to KZ 80. At the same time, the retail price for milk should not be raised, because today’s retail markup of processors is 60%”, deputy head of the region Baurzhan Kasenov said.

Milk processors explained the difference between the purchase price and final cost – low quality of raw materials.

“Taking into account the value added tax, we pay KZ 90 for a liter of first quality milk. But it should have: fat content 3.5% and acidity up to 18%. We buy milk with fat – 3,2-3,3% and acidity – 19-20%”, director of “Best Milk” LP Marina Reidina said.

The head of “Molkom Pavlodar” LP Vitaly Mikhailov noted that his enterprise asked private traders to give first quality milk.

“In the private sector, we sustained the price – KZ 100 for a liter of milk during eight months to see what kind of milk we would have over time. Unfortunately, people did not increase the number of dairy cattle. Moreover, the quality of milk became worse. People add water into the milk and sold it. First of all, we need to increase the culture of milk consumption in the private sector”, he added.

Akim of Pavlodar region Bulat Bakauov said that the local executive agencies should control it.

“I do not think that the local akims, departments of agriculture, veterinary and health inspection services worked hard. If a person wants to have good money for the milk, it should be first quality. Today it is unprofitable to produce milk in private households because of the low purchase price. Peasants need motivation, and the motivation consists of the price. Therefore, the purchase price of milk in private households must be increased”, akim noted.