The warning protest of farmers dissatisfied with the state of Croatian agriculture began today by noon at the protest point in Ferovac on the Požega – Našice road, as well as on the Ludbreg bypass, while a larger part of agricultural associations has so far postponed the announced protests.
Farmers are demanding the payment of subsidies, the legalization of agricultural facilities at minimal cost, amendments to the proposed law on agricultural state land, which they say favors ‘big players’ at the expense of family farms, and the resolution of accumulated problems in milk production and processing.
Dragutin Dukić, president of the Coordination of Farmers’ Associations of Slavonia and Baranja and president of the protesting farmers’ associations, stated that farmers’ associations from the Požega-Slavonia County have joined the protest. He added that he is at the protest point in Ferovac, where 10 tractors arrived by 11 a.m., and he says more are arriving.
When asked how he comments that most farmers’ associations will not take to the streets today because they want to wait for the results of talks with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, Dukić said that it has always happened that not all counties participate in protests on the first day, but rather gradually.
He emphasized that everyone is seeking an urgent conversation with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and that the decision on whether to protest in front of the Parliament will depend on whether responsible persons will receive them. Although most agricultural producers in Croatia have temporarily abandoned the announced protests, farmers from Varaždin County, about 20 of them, have not given up on their intention and started their protest in Ludbreg today at 11 a.m.
