• Thursday, 19 December 2024

Agriculture Minister Nikolovski: There will be food

Agriculture Minister Nikolovski: There will be food
Skopje, 11 April 2022 (MIA) – Agriculture Minister Ljupcho Nikolovski said Monday he expects Serbia to lift the ban on export of sunflower oil, too. After a meeting of the wheat working group, he stressed it is not the time for spreading fake news and creating panic because the country will have enough bread, flour, eggs and cooking oil. Nikolovski also reiterated that measures have been taken to address the situation all the while calling on farmers to apply the measures so as to increase and maintain production. The farmers said they are satisfied with the support and the measures promoted by the government, announcing they will increase wheat and sunflower arable land by at least 20 percent. Enough with dividing people, labeling them and insulting them, because the crisis is affecting everybody, said the Minister. “This is a time when we have to help all the citizens, which we are doing. There’s no room for panic because the country will have enough bread, flour, eggs and cooking oil,” Nikolovski told reporters. We, he said, are in constant communication with Serbia. “Our only goal is lifting of the ban for all companies and all signed contracts,” stated Nikolovski, adding that he will travel to Turkey for talks on providing artificial fertilizer. According to projections, the intervention fund, estimated at MKD 400 million at the moment, could reach MKD 600 million by the end of the year. “No soil should be left untilled, especially in time of crisis. Food and cereals are a priority. Therefore, the Government is working on a new public call for lease of state-owned land specially for the growing of wheat, corn, barley, sunflower and forage,” said Nikolovski earlier today.