Skopje, 16 February 2026 (MIA) – Subsidies will not be cut, but additional requirements linked to production will be introduced. The goal is to boost food production and ensure that financial assistance reaches real farmers, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Cvetan Tripunovski, said on Monday.

According to Tripunovski, inspections on the ground will be intensified, but they will not be conducted with intent or selectivity, as some subsidy recipients have been found not to cultivate their land at all. He added that last year a memorandum was signed allowing inspectors from the Agriculture Inspectorate to assist the Payment Agency in stopping the misuse of state funds by non-active farmers.

He added that it is unjustified to spend €100 million annually while production and livestock numbers are falling.

He noted that the government has adopted the new 2026 direct payments programme, introducing a minimum increase in farmland and livestock as eligibility criteria for subsidies.

He explained that a portion of production will need to be verified by deliveries to processing plants or collection centers. These measures, he noted, are being regulated by law to track production levels and ensure that farmland is truly being worked.

Tripunovski rejected opposition claims that subsidies will be reduced, calling them untrue.

“The 2026 programme introduces additional production-related criteria, not cuts. These reforms show where Macedonia is headed, and support must be directed to true farmers, not those who seek to exploit the system. Our focus is on real and active farmers who actually produce and contribute to agriculture. These are the people the state must support,” he said after the briefing with reporters.

Tripunovski said the “Macedonian Best” campaign, launched last year, will be continued this year.

“Promoting the purchase of domestic agricultural and processed products strengthens the national economy and supports local farmers. It is welcome that the confectionery sector and processing companies are ready to display the campaign logo on store shelves,” he said.

Photo: MIA