Calls from the ministry have arrived, farmers have removed tractors

Farmers, dissatisfied with the state of agriculture, who gathered for a warning protest in Ferovac in the Požega-Slavonia County, today removed tractors from the road starting at 11 a.m. after receiving a call for a meeting from the ministries of agriculture and finance.

According to Dragutin Dukić, president of the Coordination of Farmers’ Associations of Slavonia and Baranja, the reason for removing the tractors was a call last night from the ministries of agriculture and finance for a meeting that is to be held tomorrow, most likely after the Government session.

– Since calls have arrived from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance for tomorrow’s meeting, we have agreed here on the ground to remove the tractors from the road as a sign of goodwill. We expect both ministries to also show goodwill and that we will be able to agree on how to improve the situation in agriculture and stop this catastrophe – said Dukić.

He emphasized that farmers will not give up their demands, especially for the urgent payment of subsidies, as non-payment of subsidies would jeopardize the upcoming planting works.

– The demands we have made are realistic. The situation in agriculture is very difficult. Indeed, without the payment of subsidies, farmers will not be able to carry out spring planting this spring nor fertilize wheat – says Dukić. He also called on farmers in other counties who have taken to the roads to withdraw as a sign of goodwill.

– I believe that tomorrow’s meeting will indeed take place and that the discussions will bear fruit. Otherwise, we are ready to take to the roads again, this time in greater numbers – concluded Dukić.

Farmers from Varaždin County who are blocking one lane of the road on the Ludbreg bypass could soon withdraw if a written confirmation regarding tomorrow’s meeting with Minister Slavko Linić arrives from the Ministry of Finance, said Miljenko Ivanuša, coordinator of the farmers’ protest for that county.

Ivanuša confirmed the verbal invitation from the Ministry of Finance and the agreement regarding the meeting with Minister Linić, while the exact time and place will be known during the day.

When we receive written confirmation of the meeting, we will end the protest as a sign of goodwill. However, if the meeting does not take place or does not result in an agreement, we will very quickly return to the road, said Ivanuša.

Minister of Finance Slavko Linić stated yesterday that he is ready to talk to farmers who are protesting for the urgent payment of subsidies, but he deemed road blockades unacceptable.