Agricultural producers in Montenegro and Croatia face crisis amid severe drought

Agricultural producers in Montenegro and Croatia are facing significant challenges due to severe drought conditions, which have impacted yields and livestock production across the region.

In Montenegro, Vlado Lakić, president of the Danilovgrad Livestock Breeders Association, reported that yields have dropped by as much as 70 percent. Producers are currently waiting for a response from the Ministry of Agriculture before deciding on collective actions. Lakić suggested that various agricultural sectors, including watermelon, pepper, and tomato producers, as well as fishermen and wood processors, should unite to present joint demands to the government. Proposed emergency measures include models to facilitate more favorable imports and distribution of animal feed.

In Croatia, Željko Mihelić, president of the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture, issued an open letter emphasizing that changing production methods is a matter of survival. He noted that recurring droughts and rising temperatures are no longer isolated incidents but systemic risks. Mihelić argued that simply providing financial aid to cover losses after a drought is insufficient, calling for long-term structural changes in how water is managed and how production is conducted to adapt to a changing climate.