‘Panic’ for flour – Top Channel

“There were long lines of cars in the mill waiting to be supplied with flour. “I am also afraid of the war, but also because of the possibility of the lack of this product in the market and the increase of the price”, he says for Radio Free Europe.

The purchase and creation of stocks of food products is a phenomenon that is manifesting the fear and panic created among some citizens of Kosovo after the start of the occupation of Ukraine by Russia. Flour seems to be the most sought after product. The windows of some stores where this product is sold, look empty.

Jupolli, who works at the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, expects product prices to rise due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Even Miradije Ukshini, over 60, who lives with her two children in a Pristina neighborhood, says she has bought flour, oil and sugar as reserves for a longer time.

“I bought 25 kilograms of flour, they cost 16 euros. I do not know how much it was before, because I constantly bought only 5 pounds. I have reserved them because I am afraid of war. We experienced it once and the situation there [në Ukrainë] has aroused fear. “They are also saying that the price will increase”, says Ukshini.

Meanwhile, Hazbija, with an accounting profession, is waiting to receive her salary for this month, so that she can buy food items to have as a reserve.

“Tomorrow, on March 1, I am hoping to go out and buy two bags of flour, oil… I have provided some other things. “Yes, there will be an increase in prices, but also the war… I am very scared because Kosovo is not a member of NATO”, she emphasizes.

The great demand for flour in the last two days is also talked about by the flour factory “Grunori” in Skenderaj, but also the citizens from Dragash.

Musa Gashi, owner of the factory “Grunori”, in a conversation with Radio Free Europe said that currently the situation is calmer and there are no major demands. He adds that his factory has enough flour for the citizens of the Skenderaj region until the wheat harvest campaign in July.

“We are cooperating with bakeries to provide them with flour so as not to create unnecessary panic among citizens,” says Gashi.

“No need to panic”
The President of the Association of Kosovo Mills, Bashkim Zejnullahu, considers that there is no need to panic, because according to him, Kosovo is not dependent on Ukraine in terms of this product.

Zejnullahu is the owner of the flour factory “Treasury” in the Municipality of Kllokot. According to him, 100 kilograms of flour is sold for 44 euros and currently there is no increase in prices.

“This is just a euphoria of the citizens that the flour must be provided”, he emphasizes.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, last year 68,000 hectares of land was cultivated with wheat crop. With this amount, according to this ministry, Kosovo can meet 65 percent of the needs of the population with food.

The rest is imported from different countries of the region and the European Union. In just two years, from different countries in the region and Europe, Kosovo has imported flour and wheat worth over 63.5 million euros. Serbia, Hungary, Croatia and Austria are the countries that imported larger quantities of wheat and flour last year to Kosovo.

During 2020, Kosovo has imported from Ukraine flour and wheat worth 28 thousand euros, confirmed by Kosovo Customs. Meanwhile, for 2021 there are no data on imports from Ukraine.

Ukraine is estimated to be one of the largest exporters of flour in the world.

The Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, on February 26 said that “millers’ associations and wheat growers have provided the Government” with supplies and that “for three months to six months our population does not need to worry.” .

She added that in case of need, Kosovo has channels abroad and can provide additional reserves./REL

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