Students joined the blockade to support milk producers, who for the second day are protesting on the Ibarska Highway near Mrčajevci. They are calling on all farmers and citizens to join the dairy farmers and show their support through their presence.
According to a reporter from Nova TV, the blockade is still ongoing. Emergency vehicles are being allowed through, and students arrived around 6 a.m. to join the protest. Currently, other farmers and citizens are present, bringing coffee and tea to the dairy producers.
The protesting farmers are determined to continue their fight for higher milk prices. They point out that milk prices used to reach 80 dinars per liter, but now are only 25 dinars.
They also note a drop in pork prices, making it impossible to earn a profit.
“The night passed peacefully, it was cold, but we have to fight. Imagine not feeding a cow, just to get milk for 20 dinars—what’s the point, why are we working? If nothing changes, there is no life here. We’ve become street people in this country,” said Boban, one of the farmers.
Regarding agreements with government representatives, he emphasized that the signatures were obtained while Tanasković was minister.
“Back then, things were slightly improving. But when Martinović came, and then the next one, everything got worse. Our people struggle, can’t pay their taxes, while imports continue unchecked. The import lobby caused all of this. We never had a milk surplus—if milk and cheese weren’t imported, this wouldn’t have happened. People need to think about what they are feeding their children. They eat cheeses with no milk in them. Twenty years ago, milk was this price, now everything is more expensive—fuel, everything. It’s very hard for us,” he added.
Today, dairy farmers will block the road near the village of Vitanovac, and a blockade in Bogatić is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Demands of the dairy farmers
Farmers are demanding from the Government of Serbia: protection of the domestic milk and meat market, introduction of tariffs and import quotas, quality and origin control of milk and dairy products at the border, restoration of purchase prices to previous levels, and guaranteed procurement from every producer.
They warn that without immediate government action, many households will not survive, and the crisis in the dairy sector cannot be measured in days or weeks.
The blockade on the Ibarska Highway in Mrčajevci was organized by the Čačak agricultural association “Šajkača” and the Kraljevo Milk Producers Association of Šumadija and Pomoravlje.
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Source: Nova.rs; Foto: FoNet