Ramūnas Karbauskis, who built the largest cow farm in Europe, believes this is a chance to become a global player in the dairy market, while Dainius Dundulis, owner of the retail chain “Norfa” that has a dairy, says there may be a shortage of raw milk.
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Meanwhile, Dalius Trumpa, head of the company “Rokiškio sūris,” misses the government’s attention to local producers.
Eimantas Bičius, director of the Dairy Producers Association, says Lithuanian farmers are closing farms because of low milk purchase prices, which often do not even cover the cost price. According to him, dairy producers do not have high hopes for the arrival of a powerful investor.
“Currently, there is an increase in milk production in the European Union and demand is falling, and when demand falls, the price also falls. There were negotiations with China many years ago, and with other countries, for milk exports. But so far, there are no concrete actions or specific agreements, it is hard to believe,” E. Bičius told LRT radio.
Dainius Dundulis, owner of “Norfa” which has a dairy, says that with new investors arriving, there would be a shortage of milk, so its price would rise. According to the businessman, more modern dairy farms need to be built in the country.
“It is obvious that milk is processed in Lithuania. There is no surplus milk. If another company appeared, there would be a shortage of milk. The price of raw milk would rise. For farmers, of course, this is very good, but let’s not forget the consumer, it would be worse. The situation would also definitely worsen for current companies because they would be less competitive in export markets. More modern farms need to appear, of course, with cows,” said D. Dundulis.
According to Dalius Trumpa, head of “Rokiškio sūris,” the leader of the dairy industry in the Baltic States, the government should pay more attention to local milk producers.
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“During Soviet times, 3.4 million tons of milk were milked per year. Now – 1.4 million tons. If there was smart policy and support not for some arriving investors, premiers would welcome them, but would pay attention to Lithuania’s dairy industry and Lithuanian farmers who want to develop milk production, then we could have 5 million tons of milk per year without exhausting the land,” D. Trumpa told the radio.
Ramūnas Karbauskis, owner of the “Agrokoncernas” group, which built the largest cow farm in Europe, promises to expand and says foreign investors give Lithuania a chance to become important in the global dairy market, but criticizes government efforts.
“The fact that attention is shown to Lithuania, that someone from the Middle East is coming to Lithuania, is a chance to occupy a very strong niche and become a global player in the dairy market. But the state must help businesses simply implement those plans that exist. The government must decide whether it wants Lithuania to earn something and be known for something. We have many things that the whole world looks at with amazement at what we are doing here, but so far zero effort,” said R. Karbauskis.
Investors from Saudi Arabia met with the prime minister this week, later with the Minister of Agriculture Kęstutis Mažeika.
BNS wrote that Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius promises to help “BinDawood Holding” find solutions to implement its plans.
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