Agricultural cluster: The damage from kyu fever is enormous, the most important thing is to stop the spread of the infection

The damage from Q fever is and will be huge, mistakes have been made, but now the most important thing is to stop the spread of the infection and save what can be saved, the Agricultural Cluster of Montenegro announced.

They say that the most important step at the moment is for the representatives of the municipalities to determine the location where the dead livestock will be buried and for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Directorate for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs to confirm and issue a decision that the mentioned locations comply with all regulations and conditions for safe burying dead animals.

In the statement signed by the President of the Agricultural Cluster, Boško Miličić, it is suggested to start with preventive protection measures as soon as possible.

We transmit his announcement in full:

"The Agricultural Cluster of Montenegro is an association with more than 1.500 members from all over Montenegro. The dominant field of our members is animal husbandry. We have had a need for advertising since the very beginning of the appearance of Q fever on our farms, but until now, for a number of reasons, we did not want to The main reason is that we did not have enough real information about the whole process, so that we could identify the problem and give recommendations for its solution We wanted to approach this, as well as all other challenges, seriously, to look at the real situation and offer ourselves as a partner in solving this day-by-day growing problem.

"In a series of meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Administration for Food Safety, local veterinarians, as well as continuous communication with our members, as representatives of the Agricultural Cluster of Montenegro, we are trying to find the best way out of the situation caused by the appearance of Q fever.

"The damage is and will be enormous. Mistakes have been made. From the testing of imported cattle, preventive measures, information campaign and education of farmers as preparation for a possible, long-announced infectious disease, which is zoonosis by nature, that is, transmissible from animals to humans, and to the way and possibility of reducing the damage, i.e. measures to compensate farmers for their production necks, but also people who have or will fall ill from the mentioned infectious disease. Currently, the most important step is for all representatives of the municipalities to determine the location where the dead cattle will be buried and for the Ministry of Agriculture and the Directorate for Safety confirm and issue a decision that the mentioned locations comply with all regulations and conditions for the safe burial of dead livestock.

"We are angry with everyone and everyone who participates in this, for us, the only work we make a living from. We will talk about responsibility another time and some other institution will deal with it, now we have more work to do. Now the most important thing is to stand in the way of spreading the infection and saving what can be saved. We suggest to start with preventive measures as soon as possible, to prepare means for prevention, means for disinfection, as well as high-quality vaccines.

"Despite all our damage and suffering, we are not selfish, because it is clear that we are all in trouble. First of all, farmers who have invested all their energy, resources and potential in the work they do and on which their families' livelihoods depend, then the processing sector to whom many people are also connected, so the trade and tourism sectors which are at the very end of the chain of viednost and finally consumers, that is, our citizens and tourists, as the last link in this chain, because they are consumers of our products decision-makers and creators of agricultural policy in Montenegro have the greatest responsibility, on the one hand, the strategic approach and systemic solutions they create with the aim of developing agriculture and food production, and on the other hand, taking care of consumer health and animal welfare, they don't allow them to make even the slightest mistake in their responsibilities. However, it is a lesson for the future, we have a lot of work to do now.

"From the very beginning, ever since the announcement that there is a real possibility that Q fever will appear and start spreading in Montenegro, we in the Cluster are closely monitoring the situation, trying to improve the knowledge of farmers and through a series of initiatives and meetings, we are trying to find ways of prevention and protection, both people and animals, and finally about the harmless removal of the bodies of dead or euthanized diseased animals. sector according to all the challenges that farmers face every day. It's as if no one is aware of how much we are all connected to each other and how important it is to think about each other. Because if it's good for the farmer, it will be good for the processor, he will have a safe and quality product in sufficient quantity, if it is good for the processor, it will be good for the trader, and if it is good for the trader, it will be good for the consumer and the state. And if it is not good for anyone in this chain, it must be reflected on everyone, with the fact that it is the biggest loss if it is not good for the farmer, because without him, everyone else in the chain remains short-handed. But according to the old one, that the full does not trust the hungry, this also shows the level of cooperation, I can freely say solidarity, that we function as a society. This has also been shown in this situation regarding the current Q fever.

"We'll just cite an example that an average cow farm generates around 4.000 euros of VAT per month, provides food for the population and maintains pastures and arable land. Enough to indicate our importance, not to mention how many people are employed on these farms and the importance and the directions we give to the food processing sector.

"There are big challenges, we had different proposals from our members for the reactions and activities of our organization, from the mildest to the most radical activities.

"However, trying to be wise and reacting not to contribute to the growth of damage and to spread panic about an already seriously complicated situation, we always take care and try to delegate the problems that come to us to the competent institutions, in this case the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Safety Administration and let's try to find solutions together, so that they can be overcome, and not that our problems become fuel for all those who, with a populist approach, only aim for personal benefits, whether it's about increasing the circulation or the number of visits to the portals It is not fair to the farmers, nor to the consumers, nor to the state they get sick and in the end the dead are buried, dug up and driven around Montenegro... But it is the least fair to people's health.

"It is also not fair that none of these people who are using this situation for the aforementioned benefits came forward with a proposal for a solution, we did not hear from any of the politicians, the media, or even from the citizens that anyone offered the possibility of a solution. they eat cheese and crusts, and no one shows solidarity and offers a solution. We understand, it's none of their business, and that's why the state and its institutions exist. Yes, but we all forget that we, the citizens, have to give, not just expect. What would the folk say, we only have rakes, and we don't take pitchforks in our hands...

"Such situations, unfortunately, show how systemically distant we are from a strategic approach to the organization of agriculture and food production from the farm to the table. They show how unprepared we are for everything that can happen tomorrow. It's sad, but it's our reality. Today, Q, tomorrow some other fever...

"From the very beginning, we have been trying to influence decision-makers to raise the Agricultural budget, which is shamefully low and the smallest in the region, less than 2% of the national budget, to 5%! That is why we prepared the campaign "5 honest for agriculture!", which we again postponed because of the election, so that no one would associate us with politics and reduce the strength of the campaign we are fighting for a bigger agricultural budget for farmers. There is also a part for advisory services and, most importantly, for the Food Safety Administration! we are also looking for the Ministry of Agriculture, because if they had the conditions, they would be able to better support all processes from development to the protection of human and animal health. And who will pay for them in the end? Citizens of Montenegro, of course. Those same consumers about whom we endanger the quality of life and our own lives with such failures. Wouldn't the citizens agree that more should be allocated for food safety and its sufficiency? We're sure they would. And, unfortunately, we all see it now. And the government is made up of people who feed off our work.

"All this indicates that only a joint approach to solving challenges in agriculture and a serious increase in the Agricultural Budget can bring the best solutions and an efficient system of food production, processing, distribution with continuous and responsible control of food quality and safety. We in the Cluster are willing to solve problems together. Still. How long that patience will last depends on us. That's why we invite everyone in the livestock production value chain to get involved, to unite and stop this torment."