Serbian farmers protest for better milk prices

Farmers across Serbia have been protesting for two days after representatives of several agricultural associations met with government officials to voice their concerns over the prices they get for milk.

On Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, met with representatives of the Association of Milk Producers of the Mačva District, led by Goran Vasić, and the Association of Cattle Breeders of Central Serbia, represented by Milija Palamarević.

Farmers presented the problems and difficulties they face, expressing, first of all, their dissatisfaction with the state of the milk market, presenting specific proposals to solve the problems.

Speaking about the first measures that the state will introduce to facilitate the business of farmers, the president pointed out that the levy for hard cheeses will be increased to 300 dinars (€2.5) per kilogram. Also, levies on evaporated milk will be introduced for 300 dinars (€2.5).

He added that subsidies per head for breeding dairy cows would be raised from 30,000 to 40,000 dinars (€255 to €341.

“The total amount of the increase is 2.3 billion dinars (€19.6 million), and a total of 14.3 billion dinars (€122 million) will be paid for this measure in 2023,” Vučić pointed out and added that the measure will apply to all dairy cows.

Premiums for milk will be increased from 15 (€0.13) to 19 dinars (€0.16) per litre in the second, third and fourth quarters. A margin limit was also agreed upon.

After the meeting, they declared they were unsatisfied with the conversation because, as they said, the government did not meet any of their requests.

Protests by several agricultural associations continued throughout Serbia.

The Serbian government previously announced that, during negotiations with farmers, they repeatedly emphasised that the only thing it cannot offer is a guaranteed price for milk because such a thing cannot be done with the cost of any product.

(Milena Antonijević/EURACTIV.rs)