Before the raspberry harvest season began, insurance companies offered a price of 290 dinars per kilogram, but the actual price rose to 400 dinars. Still, many producers say that even a price of 10 euros per kilogram wouldn’t be enough to cover the losses caused by the drought.
From southern to western Serbia, many families have traveled to pick raspberries despite the intense heat. “We have to work. We came to work, and we have to endure,” says Jagoda Ajdarevic from Vranje.
Despite using an irrigation system, Lazar Todorović from Divljaka reports low yields in his raspberry orchards. He believes the drop in production is also due to the scarcity of certified Willamette seedlings, which are increasingly being replaced by new varieties.
“We waste years experimenting with these new varieties that haven’t proven to be well-suited to our climate,” says Todorović.
Experts say this season will be remembered in Serbian raspberry farming history for two records: the shortest picking season and the lowest yield.
Fruit growers in the Willamette association are calling for a declaration of natural disaster. They expect the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce measures to save production, as this drought is unprecedented.
“Yes, in June, not a single drop of rain fell on our land. And we’re just entering the hotter months of July and August, which will be even warmer than last year,” says Mile Radojicic from the Willamette raspberry producers’ association in Arilje.
To save their crops, many farmers have been irrigating from tributaries of the Rzav River, which are now at record low levels. However, the river that supplies drinking water to consumers in two districts has not dried up. The water supply company has appealed to utility services and inspectors to prevent misuse.
“Water supply systems are not designed for irrigation of farmland, street washing, car washing, or other non-essential uses,” says Zoran Barac, director of the Rzav water supply company.
Farmers say you cannot fight nature’s forces, and even a price of 10 euros per kilogram would not make up for the damage caused by the drought. Meanwhile, the Arilje water company stresses that maintaining drinking water supply is the top priority. Everyone agrees that, given climate change, a new strategy is urgently needed.
