The association of dairy farmers in Bosnia and Herzegovina asked the entity authorities and the state authorities to introduce protective measures and control the market of milk and dairy products.
They did this in a letter that they sent to the Entity Ministries of Agriculture, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They pointed out that BiH. the dairy sector, as well as the entire agriculture, is under heavy pressure and that many of their colleagues have left production. They assure that the conflicts in the Middle East had a significant negative impact on domestic dairy farming.
“The war in the Middle East also affected the strong growth of basic agricultural inputs, primarily the prices of fuel and fertilizers. The prices of certain types of fertilizers increased by 48 percent, compared to the time of autumn sowing. The price of fuel also increased by 44 percent,” they emphasized.
They noted that all countries in the region, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, abolished excise taxes on fuel. They also complained about the increase in the import of cheap cheeses.
“In January, that import amounted to 16 million KM, and in February it amounted to 22 million KM. Those products are imported at a price lower than the producer price. Serbia, in cooperation with dairies, retail chains and processors, has decided to ‘come to terms’ with this problem and stabilize its market. We are afraid that these products will ‘spill over’ to us, and the proof is precisely the increased import of those cheeses in February,” they pointed out.
Local dairies expect the costs of their production to continue to rise, which is why they believe that it is necessary for the state to stand behind them. Consequently, they expect the authorities to take the following urgent measures:
Urgent cancellation of excise duty on fuel until March 25;
Urgent introduction of measures to protect and control the market of milk and milk products until March 31.
In addition, they are asking to be allowed a meeting with the chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto (HDZ) and other ministers of the Council of Ministers within seven days, he writes. Klix.
