Minister thanks Serbia’s farmers for ending protest

The farmers have blocked the main road between Serbia and Montenegro over the weekend and continued on Monday after failing to convince the Agriculture Ministry’s officials that the purchase price has to be at least 180 Dinars (about 1.5 Euro).

Both Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Nedimovic said earlier that the government does not influence the price of raspberries.

Nedimovic told the state RTS television that after President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Brnabic told the farmers the problem could not be solved by blocking the roads, but in negotiations, they decided to end the protest.

“I will talk to them tomorrow to see in what way the state can help them to reduce the production costs and how to react to the new market rules that are not easy to meet,” Nedimovic said.

He added that Serbia exported a record of 90,000 tonnes of raspberries by May and that it resulted in market changes, i.e., the reduction in demand.

“Wishes are one thing, the possibilities the other. We will see what will happen with the price, but the freezer owners also have the interest to find a common solution with the farmers, since they have to think about the next year and possible production cut down,” Nedimovic added.