The sunflower harvest in Serbia is coming to an end, and due to dry conditions, yields are expected to be 10 to 15% lower than the ten-year average. Dr. Vladimir Miklič, head of the Sunflower Department at the Institute of Agriculture and Vegetables in Novi Sad, states that the current purchase price of sunflowers is 37 dinars per kilogram, which is lower compared to previous years. Nevertheless, the areas under this crop will continue to grow because sunflower is more resistant to climate change than other agricultural crops.
Miklič emphasizes the importance of the domestic oil industry, which could process three times the amount of sunflowers than the current production. Sunflower is a key export product of Serbia because it is processed into oil that is further exported, unlike other crops that are mostly exported in raw form. Although this year’s yields are lower, the purchase price will not increase. Only those producers who achieve yields of more than three and a half tons per hectare will profit from this.
The price of sunflower: facts and speculations
Investments in sunflower production have increased significantly in recent years, while earlier more attention was paid to corn. Miklič predicts that in ten years, irrigation will become necessary for the cultivation of this crop. Currently, the areas under sunflower in Serbia reach between 270,000 and 280,000 hectares, and this number could continue to grow despite the fall in the purchase price. The price of sunflowers may increase slightly by two to three dinars until the end of the season.
As for the farmers’ claims that the price of sunflowers in Serbia is lower than in the region and that buyers negotiate prices, Miklić denies those claims, stressing that there is no evidence of such agreements. As an example, he cites Romania, where the price of sunflowers is similar or even slightly lower than in Serbia. Serbia’s great advantage lies in its strong processing sector, which is modern and has large capacities. Namely, it enables the production of 700,000 to 750,000 tons of oil in good years. It should be noted that this is three times more than domestic consumption.
Miklič further notes that the drought has not only affected Serbia, but also the whole of Europe, which is the largest producer of sunflowers. Due to this drought, as well as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which are the largest global producers, there may be a shortage of oil on the world market. Nevertheless, there is no fear of oil shortage in Serbia, considering the strong production and export capacities.
Source: AgroTV
Source: boljazemlja.com
