Farmers representing ten associations from Vojvodina and central Serbia have agreed to request one-time state aid of 300 euros per hectare for spring crops and fruit plantations registered in the e-agrarian system. If the government does not approve this aid by August 1, they plan to launch protests.
Dejan Ivanišević, Vice President of the Initiative for the Survival of Serbian Farmers, said the decision was made after a late-night meeting in Stajićevo, Banat. The farmers expect a government regulation on aid payments by August 1, along with a public call for registering areas under spring crops such as corn, soybeans, sunflowers, sugar beets, and various fruits.
They also demand that all outstanding subsidies and premiums for 2025 be paid by August 1.
Additionally, the farmers call for the full exemption of excise duty on diesel fuel starting January 1, 2026, allowing agricultural producers to buy fuel without excise taxes at gas stations. Currently, they pay full excise but are supposed to be reimbursed 50 dinars per liter, a refund that reportedly takes three to four times longer than the agreed 14 days.
Farmers further request state-backed loans with a 1% interest rate to refinance previous bank loans they are unable to repay due to drought-related crop and fruit losses.
Goran Filipović, President of the Initiative for the Survival of Serbian Farmers, emphasized that the requested aid is minimal but necessary to cover part of the damages. He highlighted that frost has destroyed fruit yields, and drought has severely affected crops and fodder supplies, forcing livestock farmers to consider selling animals, machinery, or land.
Filipović criticized the government for failing to implement agricultural development strategies and stressed the need for a special fund to help farmers survive crises like this.
Representatives from multiple farmer associations signed the demands, including those from Banat, Šumadija and Pomoravlje, Novi Sad region, and Srem fruit growers. Associations absent from the meeting will decide soon whether to join the initiative.
Farmers warn that without state support, they will resort to protests to try to save their production.
