prijava
SARAJEVO, October 11 (FENA) - In order to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on agriculture, the FBiH Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry has implemented a set of measures to support farmers in spring sowing, extending certain deadlines in this year's incentive program in such a way that farmers are nevertheless allowed to sow in a timely manner. Money has also been provided for the regular payment of incentives from this year's program, said the FBiH Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Šemsudin Dedić told FENA, noting that the most important thing for farmers is regular payments and confidence in what the FBiH Government decides.
Answering a journalist's question, he also explained that ten million KM will be spent additionally, intended to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on the agricultural sector in FBiH.
"The measures that are currently being implemented relate to the modernization of agriculture, increasing the competitiveness of our producers. In addition to all the measures that are underway, we are primarily trying to protect domestic production; we have initiated stricter controls on the import of agricultural products into our country from the point of view of their quality; a decision was made on the preference of domestic products in public procurement procedures in the ratio of 30 percent. This is part of the measures related to the state level, to foreign trade operations, within the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, with which we cooperate in their implementation.
Regarding the export of agri-food products and an additional allocation of funds, the Government of the Federation of BiH will issue a decree allocating additional funds in five sectors; for the agri-food sector, ten million KM will be provided for the purchase of surplus own production, processing of agri-food products from the territory of the Federation of BiH. After the Government passes the decree, a public call will be published for companies, crafts, cooperatives, for all those who produce, buy and process products in the FBiH, as we believe we will increase the competitiveness of our export-oriented companies and improve their liquidity," said the Minister.
When asked whether the autumn program of support to farmers will be realized, which Minister Dedić announced during the realization of the program of co-financing spring sowing, he answered that this program was announced at the end of last month. He also reminded that based on the above, about 17,400 agricultural producers used financial assistance and support, realized in 70 municipalities of the Federation of BiH.
"We managed to increase the area of cultivated agricultural land and then we announced that a similar program would be announced in the fall; it was published at the end of September and the public call lasts until October 15.
"I call on all agricultural producers to apply for these funds through the municipalities, and the program refers to the co-financing of support for the production of wheat, rye and barley; these are crops that we import in significant quantities; we as a country are not independent when it comes to wheat production. In relation to the total needs of the Federation of BiH, our production participates with about 20 percent, so we want to increase arable land and food safety of our population in the future in the autumn sowing; we want to encourage people to create a habit and cultivate uncultivated areas in order to have more domestically produced wheat," Dedić points out.
According to the Minister, investments are something that agriculture needs and that will increase competitiveness, strengthen domestic agricultural producers and create stability for long-term business activities in the agriculture sector.
(FENA) S. R.
