A dairy farmers group claims around 80 percent of the milk sold in Fiji is imported.

Northland Farmers Cooperative Chair Hirday Lakhan says he has personally seen foreign brands taking over shelf space in the market.

Lakhan says while there is a shortfall in local milk production, increased reliance on imported processed milk will negatively impact farmers.

“In supermarkets, you go to the area where liquid milk is kept and you will see more spaces are being occupied by imported milk. Sadly the white packet of Rewa Dairy was occupying a very little amount of space.”

Lakhan says local farmers need to be assisted so that milk production can increase.

He adds farmers also need to grow breeding stock and milking herd for the long term.