What meat do Kosovars eat?

Isuf Statovci is a farmer from the new village of Rufc in Lipjan. He has about 40 cows, goats and sheep.

In addition to producing dairy products, Isufi also raises livestock for sale as meat.

But, in recent years, Isufi says that farmers like him have seen a significant decrease in sales, as a result of the low price and the large amount of imported meat.

"The problem is with the buyer, because the buyer is looking (to buy) cheap, that is, that is the problem. You can tell (the consumer) 'BIO' as much as you want, that it is natural, the beef is pastured, that is, it is in the field, as you can see for yourself. Good quality and poor quality are seen the same, that is, as good quality, as bad quality, the same price. It is not like this local and like the imported one, it is not. This is natural," says Statovci.

About 300 thousand kilograms of food products destroyed

In addition to the demand in the market, Kosovo produces a small amount of meat and its products.

The largest amount of meat is imported from different countries of the world.

Annually, Kosovo imports more than 45 million tons of meat, the largest amount of which is beef, various types of chicken and pork.

Imported meat goes through numerous controls until it reaches the consumer.

The largest amount of meat is imported from the state of Brazil, a total of 18 million kilograms of meat.

In second place is the United States of America, from where Kosovo imports about 7 and a half million kilograms of meat, while from the United Kingdom Kosovo imports about 4 and a half million kilograms of meat.

More than 3 million kilograms of meat are imported from Poland, while slightly more than 2 million kilograms of meat are imported from Germany.

Gazmend Brestovci, who is a veterinary inspector, says that any quantity that is imported into Kosovo, in case there are doubts about the quality, that meat product is destroyed.

"Our task is this, to be a safer commodity, and for this, we check every load, starting with documentation, identity and physical checks, and finally laboratory analysis, always to be sure, the commodity is safe", says Brestovci.

In spite of the numerous checks carried out by the institutions, during the year spoiled products and meat were constantly identified in the market of Kosovo.

The spokesperson of the Food and Veterinary Agency, Lamir Thaçi, says that only this year, about 120 tons of spoiled meat and products of animal origin have been disposed of.

"Within this year, we have approximately 120 tons of disposed products of animal origin, which includes meat and meat products and milk and milk products. The reasons for disposal are different, when they come across during official checks by veterinary inspectors, we have cases when we have complaints from consumers or any party that presents us with any reasonable doubt and presents facts. We immediately take measures and intervene in the case", said Thaçi in a conversation with Radio Evropa e Lire.

Citizens do not feel very confident about meat products and fear the quality of meat sold in various stores.

Nafie Salihu from Prishtina says that she is horrified by the news about the large amount of meat that is destroyed due to its spoilage.

"We are very afraid, very much. We never buy, I only want from Kosovo, again different no matter where we know our country. We use these Kosovar meats more", said Salihu.

Like Nafija, Nexhmije Krasniqi says that it is difficult to trust stores that sell meat and meat products.

Nexhmija says that she is most afraid of buying imported meats.

"I don't feel safe at all, because meat comes from everywhere in Kosovo, flows from everywhere", says Krasniqi.

The meat production and processing sector in Kosovo has increased in recent years, but despite this, this sector does not manage to fulfill the demand in the market.

Fear of food quality

For years, the Ministry of Agriculture in Kosovo has been applying subsidy schemes for farmers involved in raising cattle and producing agricultural products.

These schemes have been criticized by farmers repeatedly because, as they say, the subsidies are low and do not provide them with sustainability and increased production.