Dairy products became more expensive in Georgia. The prices of cheese, milk and milk products have increased. According to official statistics, the annual price of milk increased by 19.5% in August. The price of Imeruli cheese increased by 23.6%, sour milk by 22%, while cottage cheese and sour cream by 20% and 13% respectively.
Nikoloz Beniaidze, the founder of the dairy product producing company Shiraki explained the reasons for the dairy product price increase.
"In general, prices increase in the fall every year, as demand is growing for the products. But this year, the prices are still exceptionally high compared to previous years, because there are many different reasons. For example, cheese is made from raw milk, in turn, milk producers collect milk from farmers. In summer, there were droughts in Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli for 3 months, there was no grass, therefore, the amount of raw milk decreased. Milk production is greatly reduced.
It became very expensive for farmers to feed their cattle. However, the number of dairy cattle decreases every year. Industrial farms are also not growing and farms are not opening in the country. The product itself is deficient. Farmers are not getting an adequate amount of money to make this activity profitable and more people are involved in this activity.
In addition, labor force, equipment service, fuel became more expensive... From this period, the supply of additional food begins and it becomes even more expensive for farmers to produce raw milk", said Nikoloz Beniadze.
