The Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) has informed farmers that the preferential diesel price of RSD 179 per liter, which was introduced as part of government assistance, will expire on January 27. Farmers have been notified by phone message to purchase the fuel before the deadline if they have not already done so.
Under the government’s decree, farmers with registered households are entitled to 100 liters of diesel per hectare. However, Jovica Jakšić, president of the Independent Association of Farmers, stated that while he received the message, he does not buy the fuel at the preferential price due to its poor quality. He explained that the fuel from NIS causes his tractor to consume 20 percent more fuel compared to private pumps.
Jakšić further clarified, “When you factor in both the consumption and price, it doesn’t add up. I prefer to buy fuel from a private pump, even though it’s a few dinars more expensive per liter, because the tractor consumes significantly less fuel. The quality of fuel from Gazprom’s (a part-owner of NIS) pumps is also somewhat better.”
