New increases in financial incentives for agricultural production in the KS area

(Patria) - The Department for Professional Agricultural Affairs of the Ministry of Economy of Sarajevo Canton has prepared a Proposal for a Decision on the amount of financial incentives, minimum conditions for starting production, minimum investment conditions and deadlines for submitting applications for 2022, which envisages new increases in financial incentives for agricultural production in the Sarajevo Canton area.

In 2022, BAM 7 million in budget funds are planned for agricultural production incentives, which is BAM 900,000 more than the previous year, and BAM 1.5 million more than in 2020.

"As we promised during the past year, the Ministry of Economy strives to relieve agricultural producers year after year through various activities. Thus, this year, in addition to increasing the funds intended for agricultural production incentives, we have submitted an initiative to the KS Government for the purchase of market surpluses in 2022, as well as a Proposal for a Decision allowing agricultural producers to use seeds and planting material from their own reproduction, and that, as in the previous year, they do not have to submit fiscal receipts as proof that they have purchased declared seeds, planting material and mineral fertilizers, which was one of the conditions for exercising the right to incentives," stated the Minister of Economy of Sarajevo Canton Adnan Delić, adding that the decision was made considering the increased prices of planting materials.

Minister Delić also pointed out that the amounts of incentive funds have been increased for the most competitive productions such as milk production, fattening of calves and chicks, sheep farms, and greenhouse production of organic food, which has been expanding in recent years, which is also measurable by the increase in applications for incentives in this area.

"We have significantly increased the amounts of incentive funds for the purchase of breeding heifers, so that this year it is planned to be co-financed by 40 percent, which is an increase of 10 percent compared to 2021. In addition, we will send an initiative to the Government of Sarajevo Canton requesting the Government to send an initiative to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of the FBiH to abolish the justification of receipts for the purchase of certified buckwheat seeds in the federal regulation on agricultural incentives, given that producers have been encountering difficulties in growing this cereal for some time precisely because of the inability to meet this condition of the federal ministry," explained Minister Delić.

He also said that all of the above was done with the aim of relieving producers and encouraging increased production of agricultural crops in the KS area.

"The Ministry of Economy will continue to work on improving the conditions for agricultural producers, and with that goal in mind, we are also planning amendments and supplements to the Law, as well as the Rulebook on Incentives in Agricultural Production, in order to improve them and adapt them to new production trends, as well as the situation on the ground," stated Minister Delić.

The Proposal for a Decision is available on the website of the Ministry of Economy. For the purpose of transparent and open monitoring of the Decision-making process, a public debate has been scheduled, at which all agricultural producers will have the opportunity to provide their proposals.