In Croatia, farmers in the Podravina region have dumped part of their fruit and vegetable harvests on the streets in protest against extremely low yields for their crops. This involved several tons of crops such as peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes. The Croatian growers speak of an act of desperation and a cry for help from the government.
According to the farmers, the government is doing too little to support them in these difficult times. The actions took place mainly in the towns of Đurđevac, Koprivnica, and some surrounding villages, in northeastern Croatia bordering Hungary.
The Vedrish family from Stari Gradac near Pitomacha threw more than ten tons of peppers and cucumbers onto the street, local TV channel HTV revealed. “The price was too low and during the sale period they paid us 20 cents per kilo and our daily expenses are higher. There are also many imported goods from Serbia and Albania,” Marin Vedrish said.
The low prices for agricultural products in Croatia are the result of a complex interplay of factors. An important cause is the sharp increase in imports of cheap fruit and vegetables from other EU countries, such as the neighboring countries Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia.
Croatian supermarkets prefer cheaper imported products in their purchasing policy, which leads to reduced demand for locally grown crops and therefore lower prices for Croatian farmers. In addition, rising costs for agricultural production, such as fuel, fertilizers and labor, play a role.
This has economic implications not only for the farmers themselves, but also for the wider rural communities who largely rely on agriculture as their main source of income. The decline in local production can also lead to a loss of agricultural knowledge and traditions passed down from generation to generation.
Another problem is the inefficient organization of the mostly small-scale agricultural sector in Croatia. The country has been a member of the EU since 2013, and last year introduced the euro as a means of payment. Many agricultural family businesses face problems with acquiring and retaining agricultural land. This is due to bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of clear regulations regarding land leasing.
The farmers are calling on the Croatian government to take measures to protect them against unfair competition from foreign products. So far, the Croatian government has not taken any concrete steps to tackle the problem.
Farmer organizations are calling for direct intervention, such as setting minimum prices for local products and improving regulations. There is also a call for more investment in technology and innovation in the agricultural sector.