In the Gradačac area, there are 120 registered milk producers who collectively produce around 3.7 million liters of milk annually, 50% of which is exported from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Two well-known dairy processors operate in this area, purchasing raw milk from local farmers.
One of the most successful producers is Mirsad Suljić from Vučkovci, who has been running a dairy farm for years. He owns a herd of high-quality, high-yield dairy cows.
Deliver milk to the dairy every day
– “Currently, I have 42 head of cattle, including 25 dairy cows and 14 heifers, and I deliver milk to the dairy every day. There’s plenty of work, and we work hard. Each day, we produce about 75 liters, with a monthly output of around 22 tons of raw milk. Soon, we’ll have a lactofreezer, which will make things easier for us. We have our own machinery. The responsibilities are huge, but we do earn, thanks to the premiums, which are crucial for dairy farmers,” Suljić told Fena.
In three years, Suljić will retire, and his son will take over the farming duties. Although he is satisfied with milk production, he is not happy with the purchase price.
– “Overall, I’m satisfied, although the purchase price could be higher. Right now, I’m paid 87 fening per liter plus VAT. This price is due to a lack of competition, while in other areas, the price for raw milk is higher per liter. Fortunately, we have premiums that help sustain us. Without them, we’d have to close the farm. We, as local producers, are under pressure,” Suljić emphasized.
He added that each month he buys 10 tons of animal feed, which costs eight thousand convertible marks, and also sets aside funds for veterinary services and worker insurance.
Suljić was the first farmer in Bosnia and Herzegovina to buy a modern tractor for agricultural work. Along with acquiring advanced machinery, he has also renewed his livestock this year. Although farming is very demanding, Suljić says it’s still possible to find time to rest.
– “We bought a new tractor that cost 95,000 convertible marks, as well as heifers. Everything is possible, but you have to work for it. The expenses are huge, and I don’t skimp on animal feed. There’s time for everything, you just need good organization,” he stressed.
According to him, farming is much easier today, thanks to modern machinery, which helps him manage about 17 hectares of land.
Farming today is much easier
– “It was much harder before because everything was done manually. Cows were milked by hand, and milk had to be taken to the market. Today, everything is different and much easier. I’ve achieved everything through my own work, and I’m proud of that,” he added.
Senad Džombić, the assistant mayor of Gradačac, stated that milk producers in the area receive 2.2 million convertible marks annually in subsidies, 1.8 million from the federal level and 400,000 from the cantonal level.
– “Regarding milk production in Bosnia and Herzegovina, around 260 million liters of raw milk are purchased annually. Of that, 85 million liters are processed by two renowned companies based in Gradačac. In Gradačac, we have 120 producers who produce about 3.7 million liters of milk annually and sell it to processors,” Džombić said.
Additionally, the city of Gradačac supports producers by organizing and funding hail protection systems, which safeguard large areas of agricultural crops.
Gradačac is also home to numerous households engaged in cultivating various agricultural crops. They are encouraged by recent announcements from the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, indicating that farmers may soon have easier access to loans, which could help them improve local food production, modernize their operations, and increase their competitiveness in the market.