Director of the association "Zita Srbije" Sunčica Savović estimated that some farmers, thanks to sushi and high temperatures, it is inevitable to be at a loss, some completely, and some with up to 80 percent damage.
Savović pointed out for Tanjug that this year, in terms of yield, will still be better than 2022 and 2017.
"This year we expect at least 5,5 tons per hectare as far as corn is concerned, and there are good indications that this yield will approach six tons per hectare," Savović said.
As he says, the whole year was much warmer, and this led to an early harvest of spring and autumn crops.
"The part of our country that is in the biggest problem is the north of Banat and the north of Bačka. There, farmers, that is, farmers, will have the greatest damage, some maybe even complete," she pointed out.
According to her, the new marketing year for corn begins on October 1, and Savović expects that around 200.00 tons of corn will be exported during September.
As he adds, sunflower proved to be the most resistant agricultural crop.
"This year, according to data from the field, with slightly lower yields than last year and slightly larger areas, we will have a crop that will be in line with last year, maybe even a little bigger." If we translate that into sunflower oil, it actually means the production of the total three-year consumption in our country," Savović said, adding that there will be no shortage of that oil.
Speaking about wheat, Savović states that annually we produce more than three million tons, and consume a maximum of 1.700.000 tons of wheat.
"With the transferred stocks, we can count on a fully supplied domestic market," she said.
When it comes to climate change, Savović emphasizes that domestic producers manage to adapt to new situations.
"So, like every year, we expect autumn sowing this year as well." As for rapeseed, we sow it on approximately 35.000 - 45.000 hectares, which is not a large area. "We traditionally sow barley on about 100.000 hectares and I am quite sure that everything will be sown by the beginning of December," said Savović.
"If the state does not help, we will remain hungry"
As "Vreme" already wrote, farmers were already complaining about the drought, are asking for help from the Government and announcing a nationwide protest. Yields, they say, have been drastically reduced.
They warn, for the third year in a row, that if the state does not help, we will remain hungry.
They sent another letter to the government in which they emphasize that the measures must include the issue of delaying the payment of all agricultural loans and the payment of 17.000 dinars per hectare for certified seeds without justification.
In addition, they require the resolution of the previously stated problems with clear dates for their realization.
The demands include immediate payment for all public calls during this year, announcing a public call for certified seeds in the shortest possible time, fuel for farmers without excise duty at the gas station, arrangement of PIO payments for farmers.
According to agroeconomists, when the results of corn, soybeans, sunflowers, sugar beets and fruits and vegetables are announced, the price of wheat, as a basic food product, will start to rise.
The drought has taken its toll, resulting in fewer domestic agricultural products on the market, whose prices have already risen.
Source: Tanjug
