Montenegro and Food: Why Are We Importing €31 Million Worth of Chicken While We Can Produce More?
Did you know that Montenegro imported chicken meat worth a whopping €31 million last year? Yes, you read that right – 31 million euros! And yet, we have local companies that can produce much more, but… something is off.
Where’s the problem?
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 fully or at least partially replace imports within 5-6 years. But the state seems to pay little attention to this sector.
“We have potential, but we’re stagnating. The government should be doing a lot more,” says Franca.
Why are we stagnating?
The main issues are lack of incentives and support for domestic producers. Mesopromet works with cooperative farms that raise about a million chickens, aiming to reach production of two million tons by the end of next year. But without government help, it remains just a dream.
What does this mean for us?
Importing €31 million worth of chicken means money is leaving our country, and we remain dependent on foreign products. This is not just an economic problem but also a matter of food security and jobs.
Is this just Mesopromet’s problem?
No, this is a problem for all of Montenegro. If we don’t start supporting domestic food production, we’ll keep throwing money at imports and watch our capacities decay.
Conclusion
Montenegro has the potential to be self-sufficient in food production, but it requires serious government policy and support. Until that happens, we’ll keep watching millions of euros flow out on imports while our producers struggle to survive.
So, what do you think? Should the government step up and support local food production more? Or is this just another never-ending story? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s on which side!
