We know that blocking roads is not legitimate but farmers have been compelled to do so as a result of the actions taken by Agriculture Minister Jakovina, a representative of farmers from Slavonia and Baranja, Antun Laslo said on the fourth day of farmers blocking local roads, adding that farmers would persist in their protests until their demands were met.
Laslo repeated that roads would be blocked at least until Monday when another meeting is scheduled with Minister Jakovina even though he believes that not much can be expected from that meeting. He said that more farmers were joining the protest with more roads being blocked in Vukovar-Srijem County and around the Eastern town of Valpovo.
Asked to comment on Minister Jakovina's statement on Friday that blockages of roads, pressure and blackmail were not legitimate, Laslo said that farmers know that blocking the roads was not legitimate however the minister's and ministry's actions have compelled farmers to do so. Their moves, he pointed out, have led to a significant fall in the price of agricultural products.
Laslo commented on the minister's statement that requests for additional subsidies were not realistic, saying that he could not see why these should not be realistic.
"I don't how the minister would react if his salary was cut by 30 to 40 per cent and if someone assessed his request to be compensated as unrealistic", said Laslo.
Farmers began protesting on August 7 in several inland counties demanding that Minister Jakovina resigns and to meet with Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic in regard to the payment of the remainder of subsidies and asking for a better price for their wheat.
