Small dairy farms with herds of fewer than 50 cows account for over 60% of all holdings in Romania, according to INS data for 2024. However, their contribution to national milk production is modest, below 25%, due to low yields and economic challenges.

The main difficulty for these farms is limited access to the market and dependence on intermediaries. In 2024, the average price for raw milk delivered by small farms was 2.1 lei/liter, 10% lower than the price obtained by medium and large farms. The lack of storage and processing capacity reduces their bargaining power and keeps incomes at a low level.

Successful models in Europe show that small farms can survive only by joining cooperatives. In Denmark and the Netherlands, more than 80% of milk is collected through cooperatives, ensuring fair prices for farmers and access to modern technologies. In Romania, only 12% of small farms are part of an associative structure, while trust among farmers remains low.

The future of small farms depends on accessing funds for minimum investments (cooling tanks, milking equipment, basic digitalization) and on the creation of local collection centers. Without cooperation and integration, many of these farms risk disappearing within the next 5–10 years.

(Photo: Freepik)