Skopje, 12 August 2021 (MIA) – Agriculture and food production are considered a chance for success and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted even more the need to provide the population with healthy, safe and quality food, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Thursday on International Youth Day 2021. Celebrated every year on August 12, International Youth Day in 2021 is marked under the motto "Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health". “To that end, this government has passed a measure for financial assistance of up to EUR 20,000 in nonrefundable funds to encourage young farmers. The opportunity is opened for as many young people as possible to get involved in the process of farming, to provide good conditions for their future and to build it here, at home,” Zaev wrote on Facebook. According to him, it is also important to address other key challenges of the UN Agenda 2030, including reducing youth unemployment, social inclusion, healthcare, protecting biological diversity and alleviating climate change. North Macedonia, he said, is the first country in the region that has developed “Youth Guarantee”. “It contributed to significant success considering the engagement of young people on the labor market in our country. Alongside other comprehensive youth policies, including the Employment Operational Plan, youth unemployment rate dropped from 41.9% in 2016 to 29.6% in 2020. We also realized there’s a need to include young people in key social processes. The law on youth policies stipulates that a youth officers should be appointed in all state organs and local self-government units,” Zaev wrote on Facebook. In the post, PM Zaev also commended young people, especially young doctors, on their engagement in addressing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I want to thank young doctors who have been directly or indirectly involved in the healthcare system and who have been tirelessly fighting for the lives of our citizens,” he said.