Bashtan Cheese Factory Plans Return to Mykolaiv Region After Relocation

Bashtan Cheese Factory, part of the Milk Alliance Group of Companies, known in Ukraine and abroad for its products under the Slavia brand, is considering the possibility of resuming production in the Mykolaiv Region. This was reported by the head of the Bashtan District Military Administration, Vladislav Dmytriv, noting that the factory plans to return to the region and restore at least part of its production process.

The factory was forced to relocate due to hostilities, but even after that it continues to help rebuild the region and supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Many of the company's employees are mobilized and are participating in the defense of the country at the front. However, as Dmytriv emphasized, the main problem for resuming production remains difficulties with the supply of raw materials, since to ensure the minimum profitability of the factory, it is necessary to receive 100 tons of milk daily.

The consequences of the war for agriculture in the Bashtan District are tangible. Due to hostilities and the occupation of part of the territory, the livestock population in the region has decreased by 60-70%. According to Dmytriv, if previously there were 75 cows on farms, now there are less than 30. However, he notes that people are starting to return, and this gives hope for the restoration of agriculture. Now milk trucks are appearing in the region, delivering milk to neighboring cities, but their number has decreased from 9 to 2.

Several important problems need to be solved for the development of livestock farming in the region. Dmytriv emphasizes that in order to restore the livestock population, support is needed in providing a feed base and demining areas for grazing livestock. It is also important to provide assistance in raising young animals and change the pricing policy for purchasing milk. At the same time, currently in the region, milk buyers are offering only 16 UAH per liter, while on the market its price reaches 30 UAH per liter.

Since the beginning of the war, 207 industrial enterprises have been destroyed in the Mykolaiv region, including the Bashtansky cheese factory. The enterprise was forced to move its production to another region, but despite the difficulties, it continues to actively support the economy and stability of the region.

The holding "Milk Alliance", which includes the Bashtansky cheese factory, unites a number of dairy processing enterprises in Ukraine, such as the Pyryatynsky, Horodenkivsky, Zolotonishsky cheese factories and the Yagotynsky butter factory. The products of these enterprises are well known under the brands "Slavia", "Molochny Shlyakh", "Zlatokray" and "Yagotynske". The Bashtansky cheese factory, which has been operating on the dairy market for over 40 years, was the leader in the production of dairy products in the Mykolaiv region before the start of the full-scale war, and also had considerable authority in the field of cheese production.