A dairy farmer Rudolf Burger, from Brandfort in the Free State is upset after he recently discovered a consignment of long-life milk under Woodlands Dairy’s First Choice brand, hailing from Poland at one of SA’s large retailer groups Metro. According to him, South African dairy farmers can supply enough milk to meet local demand. It is totally unnecessary to import long-life milk.
Burger sketches the picture and says that he is certain that Polish dairy farmers are subsidized, South African dairy farmers are in a difficult position due to rising costs such as wages, power and fuel. However, he believes there should be import tariffs on imported milk and other agricultural products because in most cases the consumer is not favoured and the trader is the only one benefiting.
According to Mr. Lex Gutsche, chairman and CEO of Woodlands Dairy, the Polish milk in question was imported to make sure there was enough milk on the shelves in winter. This
Continue reading…