Die melkbedryf is een van die landbousektore in Europa wat nou skielik lewe kry na ’n tydperk waarin kommersiële landbouontwikkeling gestrem is weens vrese vir onder andere die vernietiging van plattelandse natuurskoon, verstedeliking van kleinboere en oorproduksie.

Milk quotas in the European Union will be abolished from 1 May.<}0{>Melkkwotas in die Europese Unie word op 30 April vanjaar afgeskaf. The quotas were introduced in 1984 to prevent significant overproduction in Europe, which would have led to a 25% decrease in producer prDie kwotas is in 1984 ingestel om oorproduksie in Europa te voorkom, wat tot ’n daling van 25% in pryse sou lei. The quota system was efficient for a certain period although it prevented more dynamic milk producers in Northern Europe from increasing production efficiency.<}0{>Die kwotastelsel was vir ’n bepaalde tydperk doeltreffend, hoewel dit gekeer het dat meer dinamiese melkprodusente in Noord-Europa produksiedoeltreffendheid verhoog het. Smaller milk producers in the southern part of Europe were in favour of the quota system as it provided protection for smaller and less efficient farming enterprises.<}0{>Kleiner melkprodusente in die suide van Europa was ten gunste van die kwotastelsel aangesien dit beskerming vir kleiner en minder doeltreffende boerderye bied. Political pressure from Northern Europe resulted in the decision to abolish quotas being taken in 2008 to be implemented in 2015.Politieke druk uit die noorde het egter in 2008 tot die besluit gelei om die kwotas teen 2015 af te skaf.

The effect of quota abolishment will vary between different countries and different regions in the EU.<}0{>Die effek van die afskaffing sal van land tot land en streek tot streek in die EU wissel. Larger farms have the potential to increase production while it is not possible for smaller farmers, in particular, in mountainous areas.Groter plase het die potensiaal om produksie te verhoog maar dit is nie moontlik vir kleiner boere, veral die in bergagtige gebiede, om dit te doen nie.In total, it is estimated that milk production in the EU will increase by about 10 million tonnes to 2020, an increase in global milk production of less than 3%.<}0{>DitDit Dit word verwag dat melkproduksie in die EU teen 2020 met 10-miljoen ton sal styg – ’n verhoging van minder as 3% in wêreldterme. This is marginal compared to the predicted growth in global demand of 2% per year.<}0{>Dit is marginaal vergeleke met voorspelde groei in wêreldvraag van minstens 2% per jaar. Long-term effects will therefore be minimal but short-term effect may be significant.Die langtermyneffek sal dus minimaal wees, maar oor die kort termyn kan dit ’n wesentlike invloed hê. Of particular concern to South Africa is the Irish dairy industry’s goal of increasing production by 50%.<}0Iets wat veral vir Suid-Afrika kommer wek, is die Ierse suiwelbedryf wat beoog om produksie met 50% te verhoog. Even an increase of 25% in Irish production is concerning, in particular, if increased production is allocated to cheese production.<}0{>Selfs ’n verhoging van 25% in Ierse produksie is kommerwekkend, veral as melkproduksie vir die maak van kaas toegewys word.

Bron: MPO