Only half of Moldova’s dairy consumption comes from local production
The Republic of Moldova produces only half of its dairy consumption domestically, with the remainder imported as either raw materials or finished products. Although the local dairy sector is expanding, the market requires hundreds of thousands of tons each year to satisfy consumer demand, which totals nearly 500 thousand tons annually.
Valentin Roșca, head of the department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, comments on the current agricultural landscape, attributing it to the lower prices of imported raw materials.
“Having the opportunity to import cheaper raw materials or various components from abroad allows processors to maneuver and, in some cases, even gain leverage over farmers,” Roșca stated during the “Zi de Zi” show on Radio Moldova.
He noted that while imports cannot be completely halted, they should only fill gaps in domestic production. “In the Republic of Moldova, the total consumption of milk is about 480,000 tons annually. Approximately half of this milk is produced domestically, and the rest is imported either as raw milk or processed products. Stopping these imports isn't feasible; however, it should be organized so that it addresses only the shortfall that domestic production cannot meet,” Roșca explained.
Authorities are encouraging consumers to choose products made from local milk, arguing that this directly supports local producers and the national economy. “We would be pleased if consumers prioritized local products. To facilitate this, we are proposing amendments to national legislation to ensure that packaging is clearly labeled, allowing consumers to see the origin of the raw materials or the finished product. Consuming local products is beneficial, as it stimulates local producers and supports our economy,” Roșca added.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, milk production from authorized farms is steadily increasing. While livestock in households continues to decline, commercial farms are achieving better results thanks to state investments and support. “In 2025, we saw a 22% increase compared to 2024, which is a significant improvement. We hope this trend continues,” Roșca said.
He also noted that the positive trend has persisted into the early months of this year: “In the first three months of 2026, we already have a 26% increase compared to the same period in 2025.”
Despite these advancements, Roșca acknowledges that achieving self-sufficiency in the milk sector remains a challenging goal. To fully meet domestic consumption needs, the Republic of Moldova would need to significantly increase its dairy cow herd and attract investments totaling hundreds of millions of euros.
The farm producing 13 tons of milk daily and planning to launch its own brand
A successful example in this area is the Gnatiuc family from the village of Fundurii Vechi in the Glodeni district. They have transformed their family business into a modern cattle farm that meets European standards.
The farm’s development has been supported by consistent investments in high-performance technologies, modernization, and sustainable practices, allowing it to become a local model of efficiency in milk production.
“At first, we didn’t think we would get this far. We simply focused on doing the right things, taking care of the animals, and growing step by step,” said Stela Gnatiuc, the farm’s administrator, in an interview with Radio Moldova.
Currently, the farm houses approximately 800 cattle, of which 350 are dairy cows. It produces about 13 tons of milk daily, all of which is supplied to processors in the Republic of Moldova.
“In recent years, we have invested heavily in modernization, benefiting from subsidies and state support. We also participated in the Agricultural Governance, Growth, and Resilience Investment Project (AGGRI). We are now completing the second phase of this project, which has enabled us to make significant investments in modernization and technology,” the administrator explained.
Despite these advancements, the sector still faces challenges. The costs of feed, energy, machinery, and labor are continually rising, and recruiting and retaining qualified personnel remain significant hurdles for modern farms.
The Gnatiuc family aims to take the next step in their business development by launching their own dairy product brand, allowing the milk they produce to reach store shelves directly.
“We believe that the Republic of Moldova has every opportunity to develop a strong and competitive dairy sector, and we want to be part of this story,” concluded Stela Gnatiuc.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, authorized farms in the Republic of Moldova produced approximately 64,000 tons of milk in 2025, representing a 22% increase over the previous year.
In the first three months of 2026 alone, over 16,000 tons of milk were produced.
