The wheat harvest campaign is ongoing across the country. This season is considered to have brought high yields, but the desired level to fully meet domestic consumption needs has not yet been achieved. Unlike last year, farmers are disappointed with the low selling price of wheat. Moreover, they have not yet received this year's subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, reports KosovaPress.

Farmer Hamdi Mazreku from Rahovec told KosovaPress that although this year’s wheat yield is satisfactory, the low selling price makes it difficult to sustain profitability in agriculture.

According to him, the current price of wheat is only 0.17 euros per kilogram. For this reason, Mazreku says he has no motivation to continue wheat cultivation next year.

He also points out that the Ministry of Agriculture has yet to execute the financial subsidies.

“The yield is around 5.5 tons on average, but we’re not satisfied with the price, it’s very low, around 17–18 cents... Last year, yes, but this year we haven’t received [subsidies] yet... 2025 has been an excellent year... For next year, there’s no will to plant if it’s 17 cents... Last year, it was 20–21 cents per kilogram. We were expecting 22 or 23 cents this year,” Mazreku said.

A farmer from Podujeva, currently working as a combine harvester operator in Rahovec, shares the same opinion.

Recently, due to wildfires in various parts of the country, significant wheat fields in the Llapi region were destroyed, including plots owned by farmer Malësor Sejdiu.

Sejdiu urges the Ministry of Agriculture to compensate the farmers who lost their “bread”.

He also notes that no inspections have been conducted by the Ministry on their fields this year, and that fuel prices for farming machinery are too high.

In addition to the low price of wheat, Sejdiu also complained about the high price of fuel for agriculture.

“We started harvesting on June 25 and have completed around 12 villages in the municipalities of Prizren, Suhareka, and now we are in Rahovec. Today is the last day; we are working with seven combines. The fuel price for combines is expensive—it’s the same as for luxury cars, around 1.18–1.20 euros per liter at the moment... I appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture, especially after the recent wheat fires. I personally lost about 12 hectares, and only managed to save around five... So, any support would help—just a bit of relief for farmers... Last year we received subsidies, this year not yet, and no one has even come to inspect,” Sejdiu stated.

Meanwhile, experts are calling for immediate institutional action to ensure farmers receive a fair price and the support they deserve, in order to protect local production and the country's food security.

Agriculture professor Imer Rusinovci says that although this year has more wheat-cultivated land, it's still insufficient to meet Kosovo’s consumption needs.

Rusinovci calls on the Ministry of Agriculture, in coordination with local authorities, to support the farmers who lost their “bread” due to the fires.

“Compared to last year, this year we have more land under wheat cultivation. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, around 70,000 hectares have been cultivated, while the yield per unit area ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 tons, with no significant difference compared to previous years. With this level of production, Kosovo will largely meet its wheat needs and will rely on a smaller amount of imports, which will still be present as in previous years… I call on the relevant ministry, in full coordination with the local authorities, to assist farmers in compensating for the damages they have suffered due to these disasters,” said Rusinovci.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development told KosovaPress that this year, the total area planted with wheat for which farmers have applied is seventy-four thousand seven hundred and fifty-three hectares (74,753.06 ha), whereas in 2024 it was fifty-three thousand six hundred and twenty-seven hectares (53,627.26 ha). Therefore, compared to last year, there is an increase of 21,125.80 hectares in the area planted with wheat.

“Based on the data collected from the field and on-site visits, the condition of the wheat crops is good. Since the wheat harvesting process is still in its early stages, it is not yet possible to determine the exact final average yield; this information will be known and published only after the full completion of the harvesting process. The yield is expected to be satisfactory and similar to that of last year, which was 4,871 kg/ha,” the Ministry of Agriculture stated in its response.

The Ministry also explained that Kosovo’s wheat supply depends on several factors: average per capita consumption, population size, average yield, and total wheat production.

“On the other hand, the wheat consumption needs for the population of Kosovo are approximately 190 kg per capita per year. Therefore, based on the population size and per capita consumption needs, over 300,000 tons of wheat are required annually,” the Ministry of Agriculture stated in its response.

Wheat, as the main raw material for flour production, is considered a strategic product for Kosovo’s national food security. Agricultural experts are also urging all farmers not to burn wheat residues (stubble), as these can cause dangerous fires.