Across Serbia, farmers are dissatisfied with the state of affairs. The drought of this period left its mark in the form of inadequate yields and poor earnings. Is it possible to fix this properly?
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Farmers from Kikinda about corn
In the area of Kikinda, the corn harvest is currently being carried out, which takes place significantly earlier than is usual for the north of Banat. However, extremely high temperatures and several months of drought led to a decrease in yield by more than 20%, while in some plots the yield drops by up to 50%. In addition to the reduced yield, producers in Kikinda report extremely poor quality of corn grains, which further worsens the situation.
This year’s harvest started earlier than usual, and experts predict that the harvest in the north of the Banat will begin already in the first days of September. The reason for the decrease in yield is the combination of a long-term heat wave, which lasted more than two weeks, and unusually high temperatures during the day and night. During the night, temperatures reached 28 degrees Celsius, which is unusual for this time of year and additionally affected the quality and quantity of the yield.
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According to Aleksandar Papa from the Kikinda Agricultural Expert Service, the yield is expected to be reduced by more than 20%, which is a significant loss for local producers. In the area of Kikinda, about 35,000 hectares of corn were sown during the spring, but unfavorable climatic conditions seriously threatened this crop. Farmers like Stojan Gavrančić report that despite the application of complete agrotechnics, they suffered losses of over 50% of the yield, while the quality of grain is significantly reduced, and the price they achieve for the product does not cover the basic production costs.
Drought still not properly addressed
The United Associations of Serbian Farmers today sent a formal request to the Government and Parliament of Serbia, which emphasizes the need for the urgent introduction of measures to mitigate the consequences of the drought. According to the document, the urgent adoption of the proposed measures is requested, which would include, among other things, a moratorium on the repayment of all agricultural loans and a direct payment of 17,000 dinars per hectare for certified seeds without the obligation to submit additional documentation.
Farmers also demand an urgent solution to the previously mentioned problems, along with specific deadlines for their implementation. Specifically, they demand the immediate payment of all outstanding amounts of 18,000 dinars per hectare, as well as the payment of funds for all public calls announced during 2024. Also, they call for the publication of a public call for certified seeds as soon as possible, provision of fuel for farmers without excise duty at gas stations, market regulation and enabling the registration of plots on an alternative basis.
In addition to the above, the associations demand the responsibility of all relevant actors for the worsening state of agriculture that they have indicated since 2022. This includes the dismissal of the director of the Hydrometeorological Institute of Serbia.
If concrete steps are not taken to implement their demands within 15 days, the letter will be considered a protest report by farmers throughout the Republic of Serbia. This request is signed by:
- Aradac Farmers’ Association
- Association of Agricultural Producers of Subotica
- Union of Farmers’ Associations of Banat
- Initiative for the survival of Serbian farmers
- Novoseljanski paori
- Banat Blackberry Nova Crnja
- Dolovac paori.
Source: boljazemlja.com
