Some 5,000 family dairy farms may emerge in Ukraine by 2027 – expert

President of the Ukrainian Cooperative Federation (UCF) Mykhailo Korylkevych says 5,000 new family dairy farms may emerge in Ukraine before 2027.

"According to our business plan, 5,000 family farms may be opened in Ukraine by 2027, which in general will add UAH 12 billion [US$490 million] to the country's GDP," he said at a press conference on February 13.

According to Korylkevych, now the federation is implementing a project for the development of family dairy farms, with UAH 1 billion (US$40.8 million) allocated under the UN Development Program (UNDP).

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Following the project implementation, the federation will demonstrate "exemplary" farms, whose model will be used to develop the country's dairy industry.

The expert says, citing UN data, global milk output should be increased by 250,000 tonnes per year by 2030 (from annual production at about 850 million tonnes) to cover demand of a growing population. In this regard, the United Nations is interested in developing Ukraine's dairy industry since milk production cost there is one of the world's lowest.

"Ukraine is in world's TOP 10 states with the lowest milk production cost, along with Mexico and New Zealand. But the paradox is that Ukraine keeps reducing milk output," Korylkevych said.