Instead of tobacco, which has been the dominant agricultural crop in the Ljubinje region for decades, onions now reign supreme.
This year, although data is not yet complete, it is estimated that around twenty-five hectares will be dedicated to white and red onions, almost ten percent of the Ljubinje field area. This marks the highest acreage in the past ten years.
Farmers opt to grow onions due to relatively favorable climatic conditions, decent yields, and good market prices. Slobodan Topalović has been cultivating onions for the market for 7-8 years, and in March alone, he planted fifteen dunums.
- It's the easiest sale. Today it's harvested, tomorrow it's straight to the market, no storage, no keeping, says farmer Slobodan Topalović from Ljubinje.
Producers particularly highlight last year when demand exceeded supply, and prices ranged from 1.30 to 1.50 fenigs per kilogram. Demand and prices vary from year to year, sometimes dropping as low as 50 fenigs. This year, it is certain that it will be a record year for Ljubinje.
- In recent years, onions have been planted as tobacco cultivation areas have decreased. People are looking for crops to replace tobacco. It's planted because onions were sold at a favorable price last year, said Dragoljub Sorajić, head of the Economic Department of the Ljubinje Municipality.
Areas planted with onions and the quantities produced are lower than optimal because there is no irrigation possibility in the Ljubinje fields. According to data, around eighty families have opted for onion cultivation.