Processors, in order to keep the raw material base, are trying to keep the prices of fodder under control to their detriment, but that, they say, will not last long. If the authorities do not react quickly, the poultry sector will be gradually shut down, as well as the capacities for the production of animal feed.
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, these two countries, which are among the largest exporters of wheat and fodder, have stopped exports. The same was announced by Hungary and Serbia, from which we import more than 70 percent to our market.
“We are left without enough raw materials for the poultry sector, but also for other sectors within agricultural production in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),” stressed Pero Nikic, president of the Poultry Association of the Federation of BiH (FBiH).
“Today we have a situation where the market price of concentrate, ie fodder, is cheaper for poultry than it will be in a month in production,” told Mevludin Kahvedzic, president of the Tuzla Canton (TC) Poultry Association.
For instance, the organizers of the production – the meat industry – in order to provide a raw material base, at least in the short term, are trying to amortize the growth of animal feed prices to their detriment.
“The disturbance on the wheat market has hit the organizers of the fattening the hardest, and they are suffering a huge blow. The situation is very uncertain, both for us producers and for the organizers of fattening, “ Nikic explained.
It is important to note that the consequences of the long-term negligence of the authorities for the poultry sector were also reflected in the TC, where two years ago they had the capacity to raise 9.5 million chickens. Today, the capacities have been increased by one million, but their utilization has dropped to 50 percent.
The poultry sector in the FBiH directly employs 20.000 people, indirectly another 50.000. It pays more than 45 million BAMannually into the budget on the basis of VAT.