Less grapes this year, Rahovecians speak

The grape - harvesting campaign is under way in the vineyard region of Rahovec. The grapes - growing Rahovetians say that this year's productivity is estimated to be about 50 percent lower.

Killers whose late spring and hail freezes damaged their grapes complain that no one is being helped.

Late spring freezes, hail, and finally frosts have caused the vineyards of the Rahovec's vined region to be severely damaged.

So says vinedresser Avni Haxhimati, who has two acres of grapes, told Radio Kosovo. Haxhimati says that past year grapes are very low this year.

We have about two acres of grapefields. We started harvesting, but productivity is very small. We've had a lot of hail damage this year. Compared to last year, this year not even 30 percent of the product we have”, Haxhimati said.

In addition to Avni and other farmers, grapes have been reduced and the head of the Holes Association, Habib Dina, according to which grapes are generally cut in half this year.

Dina tells RK that farmers this year don't mind selling grapes, because the amount is small, the quality of grapes is high and the borders are open for export as well.

“Rendiments can say they're halved this year. This year we have no problem selling grapes because low productivity has caused basements to open their doors because of a lack of grapes. Prices range from 20 cents per kilogram to 32 cents. The borders are also opened this year and we have buyers from Montenegro and Albania”, Dina said.

Shooter Avni Hadzimati and the chairman of the Habib Dina Farmers' Association say farmers who are too damaged by bad weather have not been compensated. They urge farmers to be helped so that this bad situation can be more easily overcome.

The Rahovec municipality traditionally deals with grape cultivation, and it is estimated that grapes are planted over 3,000 acres [3,000 ha].