New Farmer Protests and Border Blockades

The coordination of the peasants’ associations have announced new protests if the price of wheat is not protected.

DKAKOVO, CROATIA - The association of peasants’ associations of continental Croatia, said at a press conference in Djakovo, that they demand a protected minimum price of wheat of 1.25 kuna per kilogram. If the price is not achieved, they have announced protests and the blockade of border crossings.

At tomorrow’s meeting on the price of wheat by representatives from the farmers’ associations and the cabinet, the aim is to stop manufacturers from paying for the warehousing of their wheat by December 31, and that the price of beats be 2.50 kuna per kilogram, said the president of the association of farming families, Slavko Novakovic.

The president of the Independent Croatian Peasants, Mato Mlinaric, said that such demands are realistic. He said that the price of wheat back in 1999 was 1.00 kuna, and this year they seek 1.25 kuna. He added that the price of product materials has risen by 280 percent.

Protests all across the country

“If the cabinet does not find a way to achieve our demands at tomorrow’s meeting, we will hold protests all across the country. A protest and blockade of border crossings could occur as early as this weekend” said Mlinaric.

Last week’s protest by farmers in Zagreb was “slightly unserious” according to the coordination of associations, because the given promises were not signed. Novkovic says that he expects the signing of an agreement with members of the Ministry of Agriculture, with the presence of high cabinet officials.

The coordination of organizations rejected the evaluations that last week’s farmer’s protest brought a split between land farmers and cattle farmers.