In Semberija, the largest granary in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this year’s corn harvest started a little earlier. Although they are satisfied with the yield and quality, they are faced with a new problem – due to the lack of livestock decimated by the African plague, it is quite certain that there will be an excess of corn on the market, and the price is not satisfactory.
In the fields of Semberija villages these days, combine harvesters are rapidly removing corn from the fields. Vojislav Lukić from the village of Suvo Polje in Semberija says that, unlike other crops this year, corn did not disappoint.
“The season has started, this year is a much better year for corn, last year the average was 300 kilos, and this year 600 kilos per bushel. Last year the price was much better, this year the crop is much better but the price is lower, but what can be done, we have to work,” says Lukić.
The fact that the corn yielded better is not something for the farmers to rejoice about. Due to the African plague, most of the pigs in Semberija died, so it is quite certain that there will be a surplus of corn on the market.
“It’s not a good situation, everything has been killed. People have nothing to give, the livestock we have, beef, that’s quite enough and what we have is too much,” points out farmer Milenko Nikolić.
“The price is about 30, 31, 29 BAM, mostly the price revolves around 30 BAM. Realistically, at this price of fertilizer and fuel, three marks for five and a half – six tons, there is zero, no profit,” says Boško Radić, president of the Association of Agricultural Producers of the village of Semberije.
In Semberija, about 26,000 hectares were sown under corn this year. An excess of corn on the market will also mean a lower price.
“Most likely, larger quantities of domestic wheat will be sown, original seeds will not be used, 25-30 BAM in purchase, it is humiliating compared to the price of seeds of 150, which is what it is for,” says Milenko Nikolić.
Uncertain earnings from corn eventually put the fall sowing plan in question.
“The people must sow, every year is more and more difficult, but we must sow and work,” emphasized Vojislav Lukić.
What and how much will be sown, no one can say with certainty yet, but what is certain is that there will be less of everything.
