Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to senior official of the United Reform Action (URA) Miodrag Djuranovic, the suspension of milk purchases for some producers is the result of a lack of interest, seriousness, and responsibility on the part of the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the monopoly held by import lobbies on the domestic market.

“Spring has arrived – a period when livestock produce significantly larger quantities of milk than during the rest of the year. As a result, a familiar problem has once again arisen: dairy storage facilities are full, purchases are being suspended, while a timely and adequate response from the competent institutions, as well as a broader institutional response from the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, is lacking,” Djuranovic said in a press release. 

He recalled that Minister of Agriculture Vladimir Jokovic recently said that people have never lived better, and that this is reflected in increased consumption of imported products relative to exports.

“It is hard to remain indifferent to such statements. It is unfortunate that, instead of a concrete and systematic approach to the development of domestic agriculture and support for milk producers, the focus is placed on general evaluations of living standards, while imports continue to grow,” Djuranovic stated.

He believes that the core problem lies in the insufficient presence of domestic products on store shelves and in refrigerated display cases of retail chains. 

“For years, we have been calling for more space for domestic production, clear labeling of products originating from Montenegro, as well as stronger promotional and secondary product placement, but concrete results are still lacking,” said Djuranovic. 

He noted that, at the same time, domestic milk producers and processors are facing difficulties in placing their products on the market and pressure on prices.

He urged the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture to address the issue strategically and in the long term, through systemic solutions rather than short-term measures that do not deliver sustainable results.