Associations farmers who are protesting are asking for an extraordinary meeting with The Government of Serbia "due to the urgent and unresolved situation in agriculture". They say that they will radicalize the protests if they do not receive an invitation on Friday, February 27.
"We invite the Prime Minister and the members of the Government of Serbia to immediately respond to the conversation in order to jointly solve the problem that is escalating and seriously endangering the entire primary agricultural production", reads the press release of the farmers' association, which was published after a joint meeting in Mrčajevci.
Farmers believe that it is in the interest of the state, citizens and all agricultural producers to urgently and responsibly solve the problems that led to their protest and road blockade.
They stopped the dialogue with the Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić "because of his series of inaccurate and offensive statements about farmers".
You can't talk to Glamočić
Even more specific was the farmer Milija Đurić, who told N1 that the farmers asked for a conversation with the prime minister. By Đuro Macuta and other members of the Government because they "can't come to an agreement" with Glamočić.
"We could not reach an agreement with the minister. There are dissatisfied farmers here, and now they have sent a request to the prime minister and the government to solve the problem. The minister said that four of our demands were met, and two were not, but we did not receive anything in writing to see if it satisfied us or not. That is why the requests were sent to the government and the prime minister," said a farmer from the town of Bare in Šumadija.
He claims that the situation has not improved, but that some dairies on Thursday's payment even further reduced the purchase prices of milk, and that one dairy did not pay the premium for the third quarter. He pointed out that this is a big problem for producers who expect that money.
"Sowing is on the threshold, and the first thing to do is to feed the winter crops," he said.
At the same time, the Lidl company announced that, in cooperation with its partner, Ub Dairy, it will buy about one million liters of milk from domestic farmers in the coming weeks.
Photo: FoNetMinister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dragan
Glamočić
Insults to the Minister
The protesting farmers' associations announced earlier that they are ending all dialogue with Dragan Glamočić due to a series of his inaccurate and insulting statements about farmers.
"From the claims that the profit per cow is 4.000 euros, that the producers are 'drunk millionaires' who 'wear Rolex watches', to the question of why we are engaged in this business if it is allegedly not paying us, and that we are young and can find another job, as well as accusations that we are politicians. We consider it beneath our dignity to continue any dialogue with such a minister," the statement said.
Will the farmers go to Belgrade?
Glamočić denies the accusations.
Glamočić rejected the farmers' accusations that he does not want to participate in solving problems on the milk market. He denied that the crisis on the milk market was caused by the importation of milk powder at below-market prices, and stated that the crisis occurred "due to disruptions in the market in Europe and the introduction of customs duties towards China and the USA, so everything spilled over to the small market of Serbia".
"Surcharges or protective taxes cannot be introduced unilaterally, which was the case in the past, so Serbia received a warning from Europe that if this happens without consultation, we will face counter trade measures," said Glamočić.
What's blocked on Friday?
Farmers' blockades continue on Friday at slightly less than 80 locations, and some blockades will not be interrupted
According to the protest plan for today published by the Farmers' Associations, the following locations will be blocked in the protest:
Association of Farmers in Šajkač - Čačak: Mrčajevci 24h - Ibarska magistrala, Kočovića intersection Bresnica from 11 a.m. until further notice, road Kragujevac - Kraljevo and road Kragujevac - Čačak
Association of Milk Producers of Šumadija and Pomeranian Voivodeship: Mrčajevci 24h - Ibarska magistrala, Konarevo - Janok, Ibarska magistrala from 11 a.m. to 14 p.m., Zaklopača - Kraljevo roundabout from 12 p.m. to 17 p.m., Vitanovac - Kraljevo roundabout from 12 p.m. to 17 p.m.
Our milk: Bogatić center 24h, Bogatić second location, road Sremska Mitrovica - Bogatić, Klenje, Badovinci, Salaš Crnobarski, Banovo polje and Ravnje.
Association for the Rescue and Survival of Livestock Breeders of Western Serbia: Zavlaka 00:00 - 24:00, intersection Šabac - Loznica from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., intersection Valjevo - Bela Crkva from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Novo Selo, main road Loznica - Šabac from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Association of vegetable growers from Zablaće - Čačak: Slatina and the old road Čačak - Kraljevo from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m
Association Stig - Požarevac: regional road Požarevac - Majdanpek from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Požarevac - Kladovo from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Initiative for the survival of farmers: Kisač, Kuzmin from 11 a.m. to 16 p.m., Kumane, Ruma, Nova Crnja, Bešenovo village entrance from 12 p.m. to 16 p.m., Krčedin, Čelarevo, Bašaid, Padina, Vlajkovac, Tovarište, Vilovo and Bački Petrovac
Association of Farmers of Srbobran Municipality: the center of Srbobrana, and the intersection - road direction Novi Sad - Subotica from 10 a.m. to 14 p.m.
Aradac Farmers' Association: main road Zrenjanin - Novi Sad near Aradac from 10 a.m. to 14 p.m
Banat Federation: the main road Belgrade - Zrenjanin near Čenta from 10 a.m. to 15 p.m. and the road Zrenjanin - Žitište in Klek from 10 a.m. to 15 p.m.
Association of Farmers Banatska Crnica: M7 highway from 10am
North Banat-Kikinda Association: checkpoint at the exit from Kikinda, road Kikinda - Zrenjanin
Association Novoseljanski paori: main road Belgrade - Pančevo - Timisoara from 12:00
Groups of disgruntled farmers will also block these locations: Lunovo selo - Užice 00:00 - 24:00, Bare, Kragujevac - Gornji Milanovac Highway 00:00 - 24:00, Cerovac 00:00 - 24:00, Takovo, Takovo Gornji Milanovac Road from 12:00 to 18:00, Mali Zvornik, Gornja Sabanta from 11:00 to 18:00, Valjevo - Pricevic - Turn for Tupance from 13:00, Susek, Novi Sad - Sremska Junction Mitrovica - border with Croatia from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Vladimirci - near the Domovina restaurant from 12 p.m., Smederevska Palanka center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Drenovac - Šabac, Road Šabac - Mačvanska Mitrovica, Mladenovac - Drapšin, Road to Belgrade from 12 p.m., Resnik - Kragujevac, Exit to Račanski road 12 a.m. - midnight, Ariljska ramp from 11:55 a.m., Blace, Klisura near Jezdina cafes from 12 to 3 pm
