Thanks to the persistence of the Association of Producers of Indigenous Livno Cheese “Cincar”, this largest Livno brand was protected two years ago. The Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has issued a decision on the protection of its authenticity, and the possibility of its export has been announced soon, but this has not happened to this day. Because of that, as well as because of the increased production costs, small producers give up and mini dairies disappear one after another.
The protection of the originality of Livno cheese produced in the traditional way, from unpasteurized milk, should have enabled small producers to enter the European market at a better price. With the support of the Czech Development Agency and the City Administration, a cooperative was opened in Livno.
“The concept of the cooperative is to help with placement, that is the biggest problem in essence – export. Here, we will work for one year at the local level, ie at the federal level, so after one year, we were told, we will be able to apply for export, “ notedJozo Bakovic, president of the Association of Indigenous Livno Cheese ”Cincar” Producers, six months ago.
And two years have passed since the protection of authenticity. The cheese still can’t be exported, and the members of thecooperatives are slowly giving up.
“A lot of people gave up because of waiting. And for example,young people don’t want to do this, they are selling treasures and cattle, they are going to the city, “ told Nedzad Burkic, the owner of the family business.
Two pandemic years have also damaged the large producers who have no problems with exports. But, as the people say – There’s no great loss without some gain.
“We have learned that we need to be even more represented in sales, to export to as many countries as possible, and so in these two years, we have raised exports by over 50%. So, now from the total production – 60% goes for export, “ emphasizedTomislav Pudja, the owner of the dairy.
E.Dz.
