Montenegro expects about 17,200 lambs reported as a market surplus to remain unpurchased this year, as weaker demand hinders the official buying programme. Mirsad Spahić, speaking for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, said farmers had reported 25,000 lambs as surplus and 8,500 had been bought by the start of that week. The ministry monitors and assesses the purchases.
Official procurement began on 21 September, when 17,200 lambs had been registered. Spahić said purchases were difficult because many farms on the list had not appeared in records in previous years and were now seeking their turn, while market demand had fallen. He described the situation as difficult for farmers ahead of winter, when lambs lose weight and producers incur losses. The ministry forecasts that the number left unsold will be close to 17,200, which it considers the actual market surplus for this period.
About ten days earlier, the ministry reviewed the situation and called on representative unions at state level to collect offers and send them to buyers. The Union of Pensioners of Montenegro is tracking demand for lamb meat at a subsidised price. Its chairman, Branko Vešović, said pensioners’ needs for the year were about 9,000 lambs; 4,752 had been delivered by 26 October, and registration was continuing. Interest was approximately in line with previous years.
Last year, many lambs from neighbouring countries ended up on farms in Montenegro. Spahić identified a purchase price of 4.75 euros as a reason for smuggling and said preventing it was the responsibility of the relevant state services.
