Skopje, 7 August 2024 (MIA) – A record-breaking purchasing price for winegrowers. The production price of kilogram wine grapes of the two most popular varieties for 2024, vranec and smederevka, increased by 25 percent according to the wine law, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.

Writing on Facebook, he said that the production price of a kilogram of vranec, up by 25 percent, will be 20.8 denars per kilogram, whereas the production price of kilogram of smederevka, increased by 25 percent, will be 18.3 denars per kilogram. 

In comparison, Mickoski said, last year, a kilogram of smederevka was purchased for 15 denars, meaning this year we have an increase of 3.3 denars – 22 percent. Kilogram of vranec in 2023 was purchased for 18 denars, meaning in 2024 there is an increase of 2.8 denars – 15.5 percent, he added.

After the budget’s revision, the PM said, 1 billion 250 million denars are singled out to pay for overdue debts towards the farmers, which weren’t paid by the previous government.

“Also, 350 million denars for the Water Management company and the National Forests enterprise, whose employees haven’t received pay for months,” Mickoski said in a Facebook post stressing that the government is committed to improving the standards of farmers. 

MIA file photo