Disaster in Serbian Raspberry Farming: Drought and Low Prices Devastate Producers!
Serbian raspberry farmers are on the brink of a meltdown! Ahead of the raspberry harvest season, insurance companies offered a price of 10 euros per kilogram, but that is nowhere near enough to cover the damage caused by an unprecedented drought. Yes, you read that right – 10 euros per kilogram, and many producers claim that even this price cannot compensate for the losses caused by the drought that ravaged raspberry fields across southern and western Serbia.
The Drought That Destroyed All Hopes
Southern and western Serbia, known for raspberry production, have experienced a catastrophe this year. Tropical heat and a complete lack of rain in June led to the shortest picking season and the lowest yield in the history of Serbian raspberry farming. Jagoda Ajdarević from Vranje says people had to work and endure because they had no choice – raspberry picking is the only source of income for many families.
Lazar Todorović from the Vilamet Association in Arilje points out that the production drop is huge, and the problem is further complicated by the inability to find certified Vilamet seedlings, which used to be dominant. Instead, new varieties being tested have not shown good results in our climate. The result? Years of work and investment are going down the drain.
Natural Disaster and Urgent Measures
Fruit growers gathered in the Vilamet Association are demanding the declaration of a natural disaster due to the damage caused by the drought. The Ministry of Agriculture has announced measures to save production, but the question is whether they will arrive in time.
Mile Radojičić from the Vilamet Raspberry Producers Association warns that in June, practically no rain fell on Serbian territory, and even hotter months of July and August are ahead. To save production, many resorted to irrigation using tributaries of the Rzav River, leading to record water depletion. The director of the Rzav Water Supply Company, Zoran Barać, appeals to citizens and communal services to prevent non-purposeful water use, as water supply systems are not designed for irrigation or washing streets and cars.
10 Euros per Kilogram? That’s Not a Rescue!
Although factories offer a price of 10 euros per kilogram, producers claim that this is not enough to cover the drought damage. The price cannot compensate for losses due to low yield and poor fruit quality. Everyone agrees that due to climate change, a new strategy for agriculture and production protection is urgently needed.
What’s Next?
Serbian raspberry farmers are on the edge of despair. The drought has shown how vulnerable our agriculture is and how urgently we need to adapt to new climate conditions. Will the government and responsible institutions manage to save the season and help producers? Or will we watch Serbian raspberries slowly disappear?
If you are a farmer, consumer, or just love good raspberries, drop a comment below and tell us – is this the end of an era or is there still hope? And yes, if your raspberry prices ever dropped, you know how painful that is!
Slug: katastrofa-srpsko-malinarsvo-susa-niske-cene
