The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with several farmers’ associations. Under this agreement, the ministry will provide an additional payment of 10,000 dinars to all farmers who qualify for basic incentives in plant production for 2024, to be disbursed within 30 days from the signing date.
The agreement, signed by Minister Aleksandar Martinović and representatives of various farmers’ associations, emphasizes a commitment to peaceful communication without resorting to street protests or blockades, and states that if the terms of the agreement are met, no further demands will be made.
The signatories include the Association of Agricultural Producers of Subotica, the Association of Farmers of Banat, the Association of Farmers of Aradac, the Initiative for the Survival of Serbian Farmers, the Association of Citizens “Dolovački Paori,” and the Association of Banatska Crnica.
Key provisions of the agreement include:
- Amendments to the Law on Incentives in Agriculture and Rural Development, which will establish a rebate for certified seeds of up to 17,000 dinars per hectare. A public call for applications for this rebate will be issued by the end of April 2025.
- Payment for all properly submitted requests for basic incentives in crop production for 2025, amounting to 18,000 dinars per hectare, will be completed by April 1, 2025.
- Assurance that the total funds available for refunds in 2025 will be at least equal to those in 2024.
- Consideration by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance regarding potential amendments to excise tax laws to allow for increased refund amounts.
Additionally, the composition of the Working Group tasked with enhancing commodity-market operations for agricultural products will be updated, ensuring active participation from both the Ministry of Agriculture and the involved farmers’ associations.
Farmers are also encouraged to reach out to their banks to negotiate loan repayment options based on a letter from the National Bank of Serbia, which aims to provide concessions to farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture will engage with banks to explore the possibility of a moratorium on agricultural loans at the request of farmers.
Lastly, it has been established that all properly submitted claims for financial support to agricultural sugar beet producers for 2023 will be settled by the end of October 2024.
