Here's how many pounds of meat Kosovo has imported from Brazil

In recent years, however, Isufi says farmers like him have apparently lost their sales as a result of low prices and the large amount of meat imported.

The problem is to the buyer, because the buyer is looking (to buy) cheap, that's the problem. As much as you want to tell the (consumator) ) BIO, that's natural, that's what a beef is, that's what it is. In the field it is, as you can see. Good quality with the same poor quality is looked at as good quality, such as bad, same price. It's not like this local and like import, it's not. This is natural”, Statovci says.

About 300 thousand pounds of waste food products

In addition to the demand on the market, Kosovo produces small amounts of its meat and products.

The largest amount of meat is imported from various parts of the world.

A year, Kosovo imports more than 45 million tonnes of meat, the largest amount being beef, different kinds of chicken and pork.

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

The largest amount of meat is imported by the state of Brazil - a total of 18 million pounds [18 million kg] of meat.

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

More than 3 million pounds [3 million kg] are imported from Poland, while from Germany a little over 2 million pounds [2 million kg] of meat.

Gazmend Brestovci, a veterinarian inspector, says that any amount imported to Kosovo, if there are doubts about quality, that meat is being destroyed.

Our “task is this, to be a safer commodity, and for this, we, every load and control, starting with documentation, identity and physical control, finally even laboratory analysis, always to have security, the goods be made sure”, says Brestovci.

Despite numerous controls conducted by institutions, damaged products and meat have been identified during the year on the Kosovo market.

Food and Veterinary Agency spokesman Lamir Thaci says some 120 tonnes of spoiled meat and animal origin have been eliminated this year alone.

And this year we have approximately 120 tons of waste products of animal origin, including meat and milk products and milk products. The reasons for the extermination are different, when they faced official inspections by veterinarian inspectors, we have cases when we have a consumer complaint or any party that presents any valid suspicion and presents facts. We immediately take the measures and intervene in case”, Thaci said in a conversation for Radio Free Europe.

Citizens feel less confident about meat products and are afraid of the quality of meat sold in various stores.

Nafie Salihu of Pristina says he is terrified of the news of the large amount of meat that is destroyed because of his breakup.

We're so scared. We never buy, only from Kosovo do I wish, again no matter how many we know our country. More of these Kosovo meats we use”, Salihu said.

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

Nedmija says she's mostly afraid to buy imported meats.

I don't feel safe at all, because in Kosovo, the meats come from everywhere, flowing from around”, Krasniqi says.

Kosovo's meat production and processing sector has marked increases in recent years, but despite this sector fails to meet demand on the market.

Fear of Food Quality

For years, the Ministry of Agriculture in Kosovo has applied subvention schemes for farmers dealing with growing cattle and producing agricultural products.

These schemes have been criticised by farmers constantly because, they say, subsidies are low and do not provide them with stability as well as increased production.