Serbia's Drought-Hit Farmers Threaten Nationwide Protests Over Subsidies

Severe droughts have ravaged Serbian crops, halving yields for corn and sunflower. The devastating impact has left farmers reeling, prompting a threat of nationwide protests over low purchase prices and delayed subsidies.

Dragan Kleut, a prominent farmer from Stajićevo, confirmed that yields for critical staple crops like sunflower and corn have plummeted by up to 50 percent. This catastrophic financial loss comes ahead of the crucial autumn planting season.

The agricultural community is demanding the immediate release of the second tranche of state subsidies to prevent mass insolvency. Farmers are warning that failure by the Ministry of Agriculture to disburse funds will trigger immediate nationwide blockades.