By the unanimous decision of all associations, today the Agreement between the Government and the farmers’ association of the Initiative for the Survival of Serbian Farmers, the Association of Milk Producers “Naše mleko”, the Association of Agricultural Producers of Subotica, the Association “STIG” Požarevac, the Association “For the Rescue and Survival of Pastoralists of Western Serbia”, the Association farmers association of Banat and Association of Milk Producers of Šumadija and Pomoravlja “Adrani”. The agreement is the result of negotiations and everything agreed will be arranged immediately, representatives of seven farmers’ associations announced, reports Anadolia.
Farmers gathered in seven associations, which were joined by other farmers, started protest drives last week, and then protest roadblocks throughout Serbia, because they did not receive a positive response from the Government of Serbia to their eight demands.
Several hours of negotiations were held on Saturday, attended by the Prime Minister of Serbia, where 10 points were agreed upon with the farmers and it was agreed that the agreement would be signed on Monday, after which the farmers ended tractor blockades across Serbia. However, as we learned from the members of the Initiative for the Survival of Serbian Farmers, on Sunday the farmers sent a series of objections to parts of the text of the agreement delivered to them by the Government of Serbia, so the reconciliation lasted until the evening when the associations announced that they would sign the agreement.
According to the information Anatolia received from farmers’ representatives at Saturday’s meeting, among other things, it was agreed that subsidies per hectare should increase from 9,000 to 18,000 dinars, milk premiums should rise from 15 to 19 dinars per liter, and the subsidy for dairy cows should increase. from 30,000 to 40,000 dinars, abolition of 50 percent of the fee for drainage this year and completely next year, regulation of the import of milk and milk products and the introduction of milk quotas and the introduction of “blue diesel” from January 1, 2024.
We remind you that seven associations of farmers asked the Ministry of Agriculture of Serbia and other competent ministries for a guaranteed price of milk of 78 dinars + VAT, subsidies per hectare of 300 euros, premiums for milk of 20 dinars per liter, to bring the reference price of agricultural crops equal to the stock markets in Paris and Budapest, the introduction of levies (protective measures) on all EU countries and CEFTA agreements on all dairy products, that diesel fuel for arable land without excise duty with VAT is 100 liters per hectare for arable crops and 300 liters per hectare for vegetable crops and fruit crops, a subsidy for dairy cows of 40,000 dinars and the abolition of the payment of drainage fees, and the transfer of this obligation to local self-governments.
With this agreement, farmers will return to their jobs, but the representatives of the seven associations state that further actions will depend on the fulfillment of the agreement by the state, that is, if the agreement is not respected, the tractors from the fields will end up on the roads again.
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