Milk producers and farmers who have blocked the Ibar Highway in the village of Mrčajevci near Čačak stated this morning that after four days of blockade they are tired, but they will not give up, and the blockade will continue until their demands are met.
Predrag Veljković, a member of the Šumadija and Pomoravlje Milk Producers Association, told Beta Agency that no officials have approached them directly, aside from issuing statements and commenting on their protest in the media.
“Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić commented on our protest last night and said that the state cannot ban the import of milk and other agricultural products because then it would not be able to export. That is not what we are asking for,” Veljković said.
He added that they are requesting the introduction of protective tariffs and quotas on milk and meat imports, “and he (Vučić) has not commented on that.”
Veljković noted that today the blockade is allowing passage only for citizens visiting the cemetery due to Zadušnice, as the local cemetery is near the blocked section of the Ibar Highway.
He also said that members of the Agricultural Producers Association “Stig” from Požarevac visited them at the blockade last night and announced that they will organize road blockades in the coming days in support of the cause.
Demands of Dairy Farmers
Farmers are calling on the government to introduce protective tariffs and quotas on milk and meat imports and to safeguard domestic production.
They also demand anti-dumping measures for products threatening local agriculture, the restoration of milk and meat prices to pre-reduction levels, and guaranteed milk purchases for every producer.
Participants in the Ibar Highway blockade emphasize that the situation in the dairy sector is much worse than three years ago, when farmers first protested due to low purchase prices.
The blockade, organized by the Čačak Agricultural Association “Šajkača” and the Kraljevo Milk Producers Association of Šumadija and Pomoravlje, began on Wednesday at 1 PM and has continued uninterrupted since, without incidents.
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Source: Kurir, Foto: Mladen Mijatović