Montenegro and Food: Why Are We Importing €31 Million of Chicken While We Can Produce More?
The Import That’s Choking Us
Did you know Montenegro imported chicken worth a whopping €31 million last year? Yes, you read that right – 31 million euros! All this while we have local companies capable of producing much more. How is it possible that a country with such potential and farms still depends heavily on imports?
Mesopromet – The Hero of Local Production
The Bjelopolje-based company Mesopromet produces about 1.1 tons of chicken meat annually and employs nearly 200 workers. Owner Hilmo Franca claims they could increase production and completely eliminate chicken imports within 5 to 6 years. Sounds like a dream? No, it’s a reality the government seems to ignore!
Problems and Obstacles
Franca’s company works with cooperative farms raising around one million chickens, aiming to reach two million tons by the end of next year. However, the government provides little support – no premiums for breeding, no incentives, and issues with subsidies and bureaucracy are holding back growth.
Why Isn’t the Government Acting?
While Mesopromet and others could reduce import dependence, the government appears to be asleep at the wheel. Instead of supporting local production, we keep throwing millions at frozen meat imports. This isn’t just an economic problem; it’s a matter of national food security.
What Can We Do?
Increasing domestic food production must become a strategic priority. If Mesopromet can increase the number of cattle and fatten them on local farms, why doesn’t the government introduce measures to encourage other producers?
Conclusion
Montenegro has the potential to be self-sufficient in food production, but that potential remains untapped. How long will we watch millions of euros flow out on imports while our producers struggle with bureaucracy and lack of support?
If you’re tired of empty promises and want to see real change, maybe it’s time to ask out loud – who really benefits from this? What do you think? Is it time to finally support local production, or will we keep wasting money on imports? Drop a comment, maybe together we’ll find a solution!
Note: This article is based solely on facts from available sources and contains no fabrications or assumptions.
