Bosnia and Herzegovina's farmers demand protection measures for domestic production

(Patria) - Farmers' associations from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina are demanding that a point concerning the introduction of measures to protect domestic production be included in the agenda of the next session of the Council of Ministers.

"We are aware that last week the collegium of the Council of Ministers refused to discuss this topic. Without delving into the motives of certain ministers who are clearly continuing to protect the import lobby, we want to remind the Council of Ministers and the public once again of our fundamental demand, which is the introduction of levies and customs duties on the import of all agricultural products that threaten domestic production where there are market surpluses.

At a time when salaries are falling in all sectors of the economy, revenues are falling, businesses are closing, and we are all suffering the consequences of the crisis caused by the pandemic, there is no time for politicking and for protecting large importers - financiers of political parties. Protection and support should primarily be given to domestic producers and ordinary citizens, who feel the decline in quality and the rise in prices of food products every day on their own skin.

We have been more than patient, we have accepted the requests to extend the deadlines, trusting in the seriousness of the members of the Council of Ministers. Unfortunately, it increasingly seems to us that political parties are prolonging this difficult situation deliberately, some as if they are 'doing their job' and others as if they are obstructing, some support and others oppose, some are with us and others against us, and so on ad infinitum for and against. Farmers from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina have never been more united. We will not give up on our demands, even if we are forced to block the entire country. We will make decisions on potential further steps after this week's session of the Council of Ministers," the farmers announced.