The price of “ajvarka” peppers drops again to 25 denars, Strumica farmers announce new protest

Strumica farmers will return to protest after the price of “ajvarka” peppers fell again to 25 denars per kilogram, although the agreement reached after the protests had stipulated 30 denars. The “Youth of Murtino” local association, which organized the protests, announced that the next rally will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. in front of the Agriculture Ministry building in Strumica.

Producers are calling for the mayors of Strumica and the surrounding municipalities to also take part in the protest. They are also urging Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to take, as they put it, an “excursion to Strumica.”

The farmers are addressing Agriculture Minister Borče Serafimovski, asking him for “magical advice” on how they can get through the winter without receiving their subsidies while also securing preparations for planting next season’s crops.

Two weeks ago, “ajvarka” pepper growers in Strumica organized several protests, during which they blocked major intersections in the region and also held a blockade in front of the Agriculture Ministry’s unit in Strumica. Following Minister Borče Serafimovski’s mediation with buyers and traders, the farmers were informed that prices would increase by five denars.

Under the agreement, first-class “kurtovska kapija” peppers would be bought for 40 denars, first- and second-class peppers for 30 denars, industrial-grade peppers for 30 denars, while “shkart” would be paid 15 denars. Since around 80 percent of the produce was being bought as industrial grade at 25 denars, the increase for this category was five denars per kilogram.

The farmers say they made no public statements for five days, while continuing their communication with Agriculture Minister Borče Serafimovski. According to them, the authorities were informed about the situation, but the agreement was not implemented on the ground and they saw no serious commitment from the institutions.

“The farmer has been pushed into an organized attack by several ‘executioner’ factories that determine his fate, while the state and its institutions stand by as silent observers, pretending to be powerless, without activating or creating any proper mechanism to protect the farmer—the people who feed this state. Enough!” the organizers wrote, saying they feel manipulated, undervalued and outraged.

After the agreement reached with buyers and traders, Minister Serafimovski had announced inspections during the purchase of “ajvarka” peppers. The director of the State Agriculture Inspectorate, Ivica Angelovski, went to the field together with several state inspectors, stating that the produce was being purchased in accordance with the agreement: 30 denars for first- and second-class peppers and for industrial-grade peppers.

The main quantity collected is sent for processing to local processors, while part of it is exported to Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and other countries.