Kosovo might issue reciprocity measures against Albania, since Albania
is still applying the reference price for the potatoes produced in
Kosovo, and this makes the Kosovo producers unable to compete in the
Albanian market.
The Kosovo Minister of Trade and Industry, Mimoza Kusari Lila, declared through a phone conversation with Top Channel that they are waiting for a positive answer from Albania until the next week, or Kosovo will be obliged to apply the reference price for goods coming from Albania.
This was the reason why dozens of potato farmers from the Vushtria commune have blocked the Prishtina-Mitrovica road.
“The Nation’s Road proved to be narrow for the Kosovo goods. We want a local market and export for the Kosovo potatoes”, were some of the slogans launched by the potato growers.
“This is unacceptable for our merchants who have had agreements, and also for the traders from Albania. They used to come here on their own, but now they are unable to do it, because the price is too high, and the potato remains on stock”, declared Tahir Tahirim Chairman of the Kosovo Agricultural Union Federation.
The potato growers declared that large amounts of potatoes have been unsold. They blamed the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade for lacking of plans that would secure the market for selling goods that are produced for export.
Besides this, the Kosovo farmers declared that they feel cheated with the government officials not fulfilling an agreement that secured the export of potatoes produced during 2011.
The protesters asked the government to provide compensation and find a solution, otherwise they will throw the rotten potatoes at the government building.
Top Channel
