MILK MARKETABILITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Milk production development in Croatia is determined by production particularity, agricultural policy measures as well as market factors. Manufacturers themselves are not able to have direct influence on a large number of market factors. They have to adopt to their effect. Croatia milk production has an unfavourable status since it is undeveloped, low productive and does not meet the needs of dairy industry. Investigation of agricultural policy measures in terms of milk production development has been considered on the basis of the number of cows and their share in the total cattle number, total milk production and its buyout, supply and demand of industrial milk processors as well as export and import of milk and milk products. By means of the investigation it was determined that 89% out of the total cattle number in the Republic of Croatia belongs to family farm holders achieving over 95 % of the total milk production. Average milk production per cow is extremely low, thus, it amounted to 2,278 l/cow in 1998. Croatia milk marketability is 41.3 % that is low compared to European Union where marketability amounts to 94 %. Import of milk and dairy products represents high item of 128239 t, i.e. 28 % compared to total produced milk amount in the Republic of Croatia