A number of livestock farmers in the Bijelo Polje Municipality have expressed feelings of being overlooked by both the Municipality and the state for several years. This sentiment is further supported by the agricultural policy measures reflected in the local and state agro-budgets, particularly the recently proposed Local Agro-Budget for Agriculture in Bijelo Polje, which was not structured to meet the needs of milk processors this year.

The primary public discussion regarding the Draft Program of Measures to Encourage Agricultural Development for 2025 in Bijelo Polje is set for April 4. The funds earmarked in this Program total 500,000 euros, sourced from the municipal budget for 2025.

One of the major concerns raised by livestock farmers is the deplorable state of the roads, which hinders their ability to transport milk to dairies, compelling them to process it on-site without any assistance from the Municipality.

Agricultural producer and board member of the Northern Montenegro Livestock Breeders’ Union, Vučko Pešić, informed “Vijesti” that the Secretariat for Agriculture has, in recent years, conducted consultations with livestock farmers when formulating the agri-budget. They consistently proposed a measure for on-farm milk processing, which was included in the Draft for 2022 but was ultimately left out of the agri-budget for that year, as well as for the following year and this year, adversely affecting approximately 300 milk producers.

“Farmers who are compelled to process milk on their farms for various reasons have faced discrimination for years since they receive no municipal premium, while those who sell milk to dairies benefit from five cents per liter sold,” Pešić stated.

He added that data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry indicates a continuous decline in the number of cooperatives selling milk to dairies, largely due to the lack of support.

“In 2022, there were 208 cooperatives selling milk to dairies, but in the past year, that number has dropped to 169, down to 1,150 heads, representing roughly a 20% decrease. This decline is largely attributed to a shrinking farming population, as older farmers pass away and younger generations opt not to continue farming due to its lack of profitability,” he remarked, indicating that last year in Bijelo Polje, there were 297 households processing milk on a farm with 2,200 cows.

According to Pešić, between 2017 and 2023, the municipality has seen a reduction of cattle numbers, dropping from between 2,000 to 2,500 annually, and Montenegro has lost 10,000 dairy cattle, with 54 head recorded in 2020.

Farmers have shown support for the draft measure that allocates 10,000 euros to assist farmers who do not receive a milk processing premium, providing aid of up to 500 euros for facility upgrades, potentially benefiting about 20 new producers. However, they oppose this year’s draft measure for purchasing pregnant heifers, which has set aside 85,000 euros for a subsidy covering 70% of the cost for 40 heifers across 40 livestock farms.

“Rather than supporting through the purchase of heifers, funds should be redirected towards premiums per head per liter of milk. This alternative would offer those 300 farms an average of up to 30 euros per head for the year, addressing the inequity caused by the Municipality’s irrational decisions,” he suggested.

The farmers contend that this new measure won’t resolve issues faced by those who process milk on their farms, as they remain excluded from the premium program.

“In our country, livestock farmers who process milk on their own do not receive any subsidies from the Municipality. In contrast, the Municipality of Pljevlja offers 110 euros per head annually for such farmers. Meanwhile, Bijelo Polje provides only five cents per liter for milk sold to dairies, whereas Pljevlja offers seven cents per liter. For farm-based milk processing, Pljevlja supports 110 euros per year per head, equating to about 3.5 cents per liter of processed milk, while in Bijelo Polje, based on the current proposals, it would only be one cent,” Pešić pointed out.

Cattle breeders highlighted that Pljevlja, with a total budget of 20 million euros, allocated 450,000 euros to sports and a notable 113,775 million and 25.5 euros to agriculture, while Bijelo Polje, despite its budget of 750,000 million, allocated only a fraction to agriculture and more than a million euros to sports.

Furthermore, it has been reported that a decision in Pljevlja mandates that the municipal agricultural budget must be a minimum of five percent of the municipality’s total budget, a decision made unanimously last December, while the figure in Bijelo Polje stands at three percent.

The figures pertaining to Pljevlja’s budget allocation were confirmed to “Vijesti” by the Secretary of the Secretariat for Economy of the Municipality of Pljevlja, Danko Sarančić.

“If the agricultural allocations were increased, we would see a corresponding rise in agricultural production, significantly reducing food imports, which reached 530 million in 2021 and 800 million the year following. According to Monstat data, between 2021 and 2024, imports of milk and dairy products surged by approximately 34 million euros, with cheese imports also increasing by 12.5 million euros or one million and seven hundred tons of cheese. This is all interconnected, and at present, our entire agricultural chain is rusty. Without robust farmers, there cannot be a robust state,” emphasized Pešić, noting that food self-sufficiency in Montenegro is currently just 12 days.

The 2010 census indicated 6 farms in Bijelo Polje, whereas the latest census in 2024 reports only 407 farms.

“The census suggests that without intervention, we could see agricultural production cease within 10-15 years, especially given that the average age of agricultural producers is now 59. In 2010, there were 36,900 hectares of land utilized for agricultural production in Bijelo Polje, but by 2024, that number has dwindled to 19,950 hectares,” stated Pešić, adding a notable decline in the number of agricultural farms.

He emphasized that the primary challenge facing Montenegrin agriculture is the chronic shortage of funds for agricultural development. “We require a development budget, not the social budget we currently have. The import lobby remains another significant challenge,” he concluded.

The milk crisis due to poor roads.

Livestock farmer Nikola Mrdak reported that he manages 13 cattle.

“The main issue we face is the poor road conditions; there’s about three kilometers of unpaved road leading to my farm, which is in dire shape. As a result, no dairies want to come to us. We struggle to transport milk, which isn’t financially viable, so we have shifted to cheese production. By May or June, when market demand peaks, cheese sales plummet, leading to inventory surpluses,” he noted, underscoring the necessity for state subsidies for survival.

Anel Ličina shared his own difficulties. He owns 17 cows and around 80 sheep.

“In summer, we take our cattle up to the katun at the base of the Žilidrag peak, bordering Serbia, where conditions are similarly poor. I often need to walk kilometers to reach a spot with a phone signal. A decade ago, I would transport milk via barrels and horses to a station, which proved more taxing than beneficial,” he remarked.

Salun Hasković, who raises approximately 400 sheep and 50 cows, elaborated on marketing challenges during summer when livestock is on pasture.

“During summer, we reside at the Boljari katun on the Serbian border. Due to inadequate road access, we’re unable to deliver milk to dairies. Our expenses are significantly higher than for farmers who simply need to spend a few euros on transportation, after which they can engage in other activities. We face substantial costs for equipment, packaging, and transport over these rough roads. There’s always uncertainty about whether anyone will buy our cheese,” he stated.

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