The dairy industry in the north is said to be teetering on the brink of collapse as a result of low milk production among small animals and the downturn in the Turkish economy.

The recent militant attacks, combined with the souring of Turkey’s relations with Russia have seen exports to the mainland plummet. Around 50% of the north’s dairy products are exported to Turkey.

However, the demand for raw cow’s milk has dropped, leaving producers with tonnes in stockpile. The cooperative milk board, Koop-Sut, has increased production at their factory to make use of the excess cow’s milk. Havadis newspaper reports the factory, which usually works with 65 tonnes of milk a day, is now working with 80 tonnes.

However, there are still many breeders which have a surplus of milk. Dairy producers who spoke to the Havadis said if the problem continues the sector will collapse. The Animal Producers and Breeders Union boss, Mustafa Naimogullari said 50-60 tonnes of cow’s milk a day are unprocessed and unsold. In a display of frustration with the situation, a milk producer from Nikitas (Guneskoy), Mustafa Darbaz, emptied four tonnes of raw cow’s milk onto the road.

In a strange paradox, breeders of sheep and goats are being implored to up their production to keep up with halloumi production. The number of small animals (sheep and goats) in the north currently stands at around 350,000; however the daily milk production from these animals is only nine tonnes a day.

Halloumi cheese makes up 30% of the north’s total exports; in order to ensure the continuation of this, the industry needs more sheep and goats. Naimogullari said the halloumi industry needed a minimum of 100 tonnes a day to survive. Naimogullari said that producers in the north were only able to supply nine tonnes (with the remainder being imported). He argued that correct policy was needed to increase this figure. He pointed out that the small animal breeders had also been waiting six months to for their grants and that breeders had lost all faith in the system.