BANJALUKA, SARAJEVO – Farmers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are grappling with one of the most challenging years in memory, marked by lower corn yields and escalating production costs. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a mixed economy with agriculture playing a significant role.
Bosnian news website Nezavisne.com reports that annual corn harvests have begun, with estimates indicating yields between five and eight tons per hectare. However, purchase prices are fluctuating between 25 to 40 pfennigs, causing concern among the farming community.
Stojan Marinković, head of the Association of Associations of Agricultural Producers of the Republic of Srpska, highlighted that while some yields align with the previous year’s, many plots have suffered due to storms, resulting in reduced and potentially compromised crops. Marinković emphasized the high costs of sowing and agricultural work, combined with weather-related damages, making the current prices untenable for covering production costs.
Savo Bakajlić, leader of the Association of the Villages of Semberije and Majevica, echoed these sentiments, stating that many farmers are contemplating abandoning agriculture due to unprofitable returns. “We are in the red,” Bakajlić lamented, suggesting that the current system is no longer worth the investment.
Nedžad Bićo, president of the FBiH Farmers’ Association, indicated similar challenges in the Federation, noting that this year’s sowing costs were among the highest ever. For many farmers, prices below 30 pfennigs per kilogram are not sustainable.
Source/s: Nezavisne.com
Image Source: Tyler Allen
