The adapted Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU comes into force on the 1st of February. Domestic farmers are welcoming this day with concern.
What will happen with the production and will they lose the competition of European farmers are just some of the questions on which depends the survival of domestic production.
Similar problems are bothering fruit producers. They believe that implementation of the adapted Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU will not bring them any good. Domestic producers believe that, if levies and safeguard measures are not introduced, it would mean the end of domestic agriculture.
“If they would at least introduce protective measures at the time of harvest 2-3 months or four months “, suggested Dragoja Dojcinovic, the President of the Association of fruit-producers of the RS.
From the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations said that the application of the adapted SAA will have a different impact on certain sectors of production.
They claim that it will be great for some producers, and for others not. Mostly exposed to competition from the EU will be meat and dairy industry.
Mirko Sarovic, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations said: “The first line of attack will feel the dairies since they are under some kind of pressure. This year, there will be 4.5 million tons of milk that will not pay customs duty and levy taxes, and it is up to BiH, and especially the entities, to find a way to help the domestic dairy sector to keep producing.”
Germany had earlier promised to help because of the damage to agriculture, which will be the result of the SAA. For now, there is certainly technical and logistical support from Germany.
(Source: akta.ba)
