Farmers halt protest pending talks

Raspberry farmers last evening decided to halt their protest that lasted two days outside the Serbian government building in Belgrade.

Izvor: B92

Friday, 14.08.2009.

09:30

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Raspberry farmers last evening decided to halt their protest that lasted two days outside the Serbian government building in Belgrade. Although their demands had not been met, the farmers decided to go home after agreement was reached to hold a meeting on August 17 in Arilje, western Serbia, to discuss prices, President of the Vilamet Association of Berry Producers Dragisa Terzic told Tanjug. Farmers halt protest pending talks The meeting will be attended by Agriculture Minister Sasa Dragin and Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjic. But the Agriculture Ministry continues to insist that the protest over the low prices of raspberries has "a political background", and that lies were spread about this year's harvest, for which they filed a criminal complaint against Terzic. A statement from the ministry also said that the prices were set by the market rather than the state. This is also true in other European countries, says Novi Sad's Faculty of Agriculture professor Zoran Keserovic, and adds that the farmers' demands are "unrealistic". He believes that the farmers and sold storage facility owners, who buy off their crop, must reach agreement on the prices, while the state "can, but doesn't have to, interfere". The Competition Commission found that there was no cartel threatening the interests of farmers, but said there were problems in long-term default contracts. Minister Dragin repeated that the state cannot set the prices but added that his ministry wants to play the role of mediator in negotiations between the farmers and cold storage owners. Speaking for state broadcaster RTS, he appealed on the latter to "do their best and pay the most they can this year which is very hard on farmers, because you will need them next year too".

Farmers halt protest pending talks

The meeting will be attended by Agriculture Minister Saša Dragin and Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjić.

But the Agriculture Ministry continues to insist that the protest over the low prices of raspberries has "a political background", and that lies were spread about this year's harvest, for which they filed a criminal complaint against Terzić.

A statement from the ministry also said that the prices were set by the market rather than the state. This is also true in other European countries, says Novi Sad's Faculty of Agriculture professor Zoran Keserović, and adds that the farmers' demands are "unrealistic".

He believes that the farmers and sold storage facility owners, who buy off their crop, must reach agreement on the prices, while the state "can, but doesn't have to, interfere".

The Competition Commission found that there was no cartel threatening the interests of farmers, but said there were problems in long-term default contracts.

Minister Dragin repeated that the state cannot set the prices but added that his ministry wants to play the role of mediator in negotiations between the farmers and cold storage owners.

Speaking for state broadcaster RTS, he appealed on the latter to "do their best and pay the most they can this year which is very hard on farmers, because you will need them next year too".

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