Technical and technological characteristics of plants for the production of added value cheese on registered agricultural households in Vojvodina

This paper presents the technical and technological characteristics of buildings, regarding milk production plants, which adapting, and equipping was funded by the Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture AP Vojvodina (60%) and by their own funds (40%) in the period 2013-2016. Most beneficiaries belong to the category of farmers who are additionally financially supported, and who have been awarded additional points because they are: under the age of 40, women as farm holders or farmers working in difficult working conditions. Various models of small plants, facilities for the milk (cow, goat and sheep) processing into cheese on households (production of fresh cheese, soft cheese and semi-hard cheese), as well as larger plants for production and processing at the level of Sole Proprietorship facility are described. In this way, conditions for the added value cheese production and expansion of assortments, along with better sales and higher economic profit are provided. Many producers are working on their livestock count increase because of higher demands in raw milk, whereas some, in addition to their milk, purchase milk from households in their neighborhood, which also affects livestock development. Some producers, due to higher economic profit in processing, stopped selling milk to large milk plants and started processing milk themselves. In this way, small producers have become more competitive on the market, and more economically viable. This project can be an example of a good strategy for better employment of young people in rural areas.