50% Subsidized Tank Support for Milk Producers in Kocaeli
· Tarım Pusulası
Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality's 50% subsidized cooling tanks, provided to milk producers in Derince, enhance milk quality and reduce logistics costs by enabling on-site storage.
On-Site Cooling with Subsidized Tanks
The 50% subsidized milk cooling tank support, implemented by the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, has reached producers in Çavuşlu Neighborhood, Derince district. Within the scope of the project, a total of 14 tanks were delivered to high-capacity farms, with 10 units having a capacity of 300 liters and 4 units having a capacity of 500 liters. Thanks to this system, which operates under the Çavuşlu Village Agricultural Development Cooperative, 6.5 tons of raw milk are directly included in the cold chain at the farms daily. Rapid cooling of milk after morning and evening milking eliminates the waiting period in warm conditions, preventing potential quality losses.
Milk Quality and Cost Advantage
Cooling the milk at the point of origin has significantly reduced transportation and logistics costs by eliminating the need for collection vehicles to visit farms twice a day. İdris Kara, Chairman of the Çavuşlu Village Agricultural Development Cooperative, who explained the benefits of the process, said:
"The longer milk stays out, the lower its quality becomes. Therefore, it needs to reach the cooler as soon as possible."
Kara further commented:
"We acquired 14 cooling tanks with a 50% subsidy. We reduced collection costs and increased quality."
Chairman Kara stated that on-site storage prevents bacterial growth and ensures the quality of raw milk.
Time and Planning Convenience for Producers
The technological infrastructure, which removes the obligation to deliver milk at specific hours, allows farmers to plan their daily tasks more flexibly. Cooperative Chairman İdris Kara, highlighting the convenience brought by the system, said:
"Thanks to this cooling method, milk can be stored safely and collected the next day."
Milk producer Gülfide Özcan, who benefited from the support, shared the advantages in these words:
"The cooling tank has been very beneficial. My husband works out of town, and I often have my own tasks. Therefore, this project has been a time-saver for us."
Özcan added that the project has prevented product spoilage and lightened their workload.