For a large number of citizens, August is a sign of numerous expenses. One of the most important items is the purchase of firewood, which is up to 30 percent more expensive this year. An additional jump in prices is expected by autumn, so the citizens hastened to buy firewood now.
It is expensive, but we have to warm ourselves, is the unanimous opinion of the residents of Bijeljina. For fear of additional price increases in the fall, they say that buying in the summer is safer.
The average household in Semberija consumes an average of 6 to 10 cubic meters of wood, and 5 to 6 tons of coal, say sellers. Firewood is up to 30% more expensive this year than last year.
RADOMIR STOJANOVIĆ, firewood seller
“This year, the price of wood in forestry increased by 20 BAM per cubic meter, transport is 10 BAM more expensive per cubic meter, the supply of wood is weaker. The price of wood per square meter is 150 BAM with delivery to the address. We have all types of wood. Coal is 220 BAM.”
In previous years, many have replaced solid fuel heating with electric heating, but estimates are that even this is no longer as profitable or reliable.
JOVAN VASILIĆ, president of the consumer association “Zvono”
“We can most likely expect that there will be a correction of producer electricity prices, so then the price of electric heating will surely go up significantly, if a large number of consumers switch to electricity, to electric heating. The question is what is the state of our electric network.”
In order to help fellow citizens save, and at the same time solve the huge problem of air pollution during the winter months, in Bijeljina they announced subsidies for the installation of heat pumps.
RADOSLAV OSTOJIĆ, adviser to the mayor of Bijeljina
“Two public invitations have been announced. The maximum subsidy amount is six thousand BAM or 30 percent.”
If it is any consolation to consumers, sellers believe that these prices will be maintained and that there will be no new price jump in the fall.
Despite its great natural potential, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not produce enough food even for its own needs. This year, due to unfavorable weather conditions, yields of fruits and vegetables, as well as grains, were drastically reduced. Are we expecting a new wave of food price increases in the fall?
According to the Association of Farmers, local producers have produced around 30% of their own food needs, and this year, they say, the quantities have been halved. Incomes, depending on the plot and production culture, are less than 40 to 80%. The quality of this year’s harvest is no better, and the largest quantities will have to be processed industrially.
“We are expecting a very difficult year, given that the prices are good, but the yields are reduced and we will see how it will all end by the end of the year. As for our farm, we have adapted to the needs of the factory and we package all our production, because we are supported five years ago from the international community in a project “From the field to the table”, so we managed to acquire a large part of the equipment and join the food industry”, says Mladen Lazić, producer.
Although, this year, the purchase prices of seasonal fruits and vegetables are slightly higher, it is still, according to producers, not enough to stabilize the situation, given that raw materials have become more expensive, and pickers are increasingly difficult to find, despite increased daily wages. The outflow of young people is extinguishing rural areas, and more and more fields are overgrown with weeds.
“My son graduated from high school last year, there were 27 of them in the class, 7 of them remained in Bijeljina. 20 of them went abroad. That’s the information, I don’t need anything else to tell you. And to be competitive – with what? No matter how much we are supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, all that is too little for a more serious story,” adds Lazić.
“Something will have to be done in order for people to stay in that story, in production, otherwise, it does not go well for anyone. Neither the producer, nor the consumer,” says Boško Radić, president of the Association of Agricultural Producers “Sela Semberije”.
Consumers pay the toll. In the height of the season, the prices of fruits and vegetables in the markets are extremely high. Citizens are increasingly buying by the piece. After all the disasters, it is certain that we will be forced to import even larger quantities of food. The general picture is very bad, say economic analysts, who cite as the main reason that economic and economic interests are subordinated to political ones, which is why, they say, “we are floundering, while everyone around us is progressing” and we have devastating data on the outflow of the country’s population.
“In many areas where we have huge resources, that is agriculture, raw materials that BiH is abundant in, such as water, water resources, energy – we import more of these products than we export. This is the best manifestation of what we think about the economy, there is a lot missing that domestic economic entities is stifling them to open serious capacities”, according to Milenko Stanić, an economic analyst.
It is a devastating fact that in the campaign of the Entity Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the RS, which aimed to lower prices, as a response to inflation – only 10 markets responded and lowered prices. In the vicious circle of the formation of prices at will, and monthly incomes of citizens that do not follow the growth of prices – by all accounts, a difficult autumn awaits us.
