According to Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, any potential restriction on exports would not pose a problem for domestic farmers, as the state would cover the costs.
“If irresponsible behaviour continues and if we see that things are deteriorating in global supply chains, I will initiate decisions to ban the export of the most important products our country produces. There will be enough food in Serbia; there will be enough of everything in Serbia,” Vučić emphasised.
Serbia is an agrarian country with sufficient food supplies and could draw on its experience of managing commodity reserves during past crises, agricultural economist Milan Prostran told Euronews Serbia. He believes it is sensible to consider limiting exports if the global crisis continues.
Prostran says Serbia has prior experience in managing food stocks during earlier periods of crisis.
He notes that the current situation is specific compared to the crises Serbia went through in the 1990s, when it was unable to export due to sanctions and bombing. Now, he says, we are dealing with global problems, so it is necessary to carefully consider how to manage food supplies in difficult global conditions, as this is fundamental to people’s survival.
If the crisis continues, Prostran adds, all countries will compile so-called food crisis balances, including France – the leading agricultural country in the EU – as well as Germany and Italy.
“We have stockpiles, expected production, and reserves. These are the three components when drawing up a food balance,” he said.
Prostran adds that, based on this so-called crisis balance, if there is a small surplus, it could be exported at least to neighbouring countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
Source Link