Producers in areas under restrictions due to African swine fever warn that purchase prices do not even cover production costs, while the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture fears a further decline in domestic production.
Slavonian pig farmers, whose farms have been affected by measures due to African swine fever, find themselves in a dead-end situation. Although slaughterhouse companies are willing to buy their meat, the offered prices are far from profitable, and due to strict restrictions, they are not allowed to sell it to the local population who would gladly buy it.
Farmers from the Đakovo region, who are in the surveillance zone, are facing a price of only 1 to 1.3 euros per kilogram of meat. "We've lost from the start. From a piglet that costs a hundred euros to a hog at 250, I don't have, I don't see myself. Not me, no one sees us," Ivica Bačko, a farmer from Potnjani, told HRT.
An additional problem is the inability to sell to neighbors. "Our, I'll say, people around, neighbors who don't keep pigs want to buy from us and they are not allowed. We are not allowed to slaughter our own pig at home, except for our own needs," Bačko complained.
Zdravko Stjepanek, a farmer from Kućanci, recalls a time when the situation was significantly different. "Last year and the year before, it was 3 euros. That was good, hogs, I'm talking about hogs," he said. His calculation for survival is relentless: "I think anything below 2 is impossible; 2.5 maybe would put us at zero because everything has gone up."
From Mesna industrija Vajda d.d., which buys meat from affected areas, they are aware of the producers' dissatisfaction. "We buy live, we arrange transport for the pigs. Our goal is to keep the slaughterhouse and meat processing running at full capacity," said Ivan Simon from the company's management. He emphasized that the purchase price is set according to movements on the European exchange and that they can guarantee farmers "secure payment for the purchase and that the pigs have a safe place to go from the zones."
Concern for the future of the entire sector was also expressed by Antun Golubović, a member of the Assembly of the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture. He reminded that Croatia currently covers about 40 percent of its pork needs through domestic production. "With all the efforts being invested, we have the impression that we will soon catch up with Slovakia, which is now below 20 percent self-sufficiency in meat production. I think we are on a good path to catch up with Slovakia, rather than becoming self-sufficient," Golubović warned.
Farmers agree that the tradition of pig farming in Slavonia can only be saved if the epidemiological situation improves and they are again allowed free movement and sale of meat.
