Skopje, 28 December 2023 (MIA) - For the first time in the history of the country, 30 percent of subsidies or Mden 750 million (EUR 12.2 million) will be paid out to 40,000 farmers in advance by tomorrow, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski told a press briefing on Thursday.

He called on all farmers to exercise their rights and apply for additional support based on the new subsidy model by December 30.

Minister Nikolovski highlighted the success of the outgoing year with numerous reforms and programmes realized. In 2023, he added, realization of the program on direct payments reached EUR 127 million, and the rural development program over EUR 11 million. The program for encouraging the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables came close to EUR 500.000, the intervention fund allocated almost EUR 5 million, while the total payment of funds from the IPARD II programme in 2023 reached EUR 13.3 million. EUR 157 million have been paid out in the agriculture sector, so far.

"We will end the year with EUR 127 million paid in direct support for farmers, and a record number of applications for the rural development program - handing out 730 tractors and concluding 206 agreements for the 'Business Plan' measure, as the most successful one. We have a record high demand for breeding stock, which is amazing if we take into consideration that our focus for 2024 will be animal husbandry. Demand for only one open call by the end of the year has reached almost Mden 1 billion, while the rest of the open calls for harvesting equipment is currently ongoing. I would also like to highlight the support for young people, women farmers and young producers. In December alone, 450 agreements were concluded, grants were paid to newly established small family wineries, and small food operators," Nikolovski said.

This year was entirely focused on food production, or the realization of the national plan for food production, adopted the previous year, as a new subsidy model.

Minister Nikolovski also discussed the IPARD programme, noting that North Macedonia is the first country in the region to have implemented the IPARD III programme, and that there are projects worth EUR 96 million on the first open call.

The year was also marked by a record number of European laws that were passed, on wine, zoo technics, and advisory systems, in addition to the law on wine, fisheries and aquaculture adopted in a parliamentary procedure.

In 2024 focus will be put on animal husbandry where subsidies will increase by 300 percent.