Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy 2021-2027 Adopted

(Patria) - The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry announced that the Strategy for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Development 2021-2027 was adopted at an emergency session of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, which had previously been adopted in the same text by the House of Peoples of the Parliament of FBiH.

Federal Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Kemal Hrnjić expressed gratitude to the representatives for adopting the Strategy, especially to the members of the Agriculture Committee of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH who initiated the holding of an urgent session of this house with the aim of discussing and adopting this strategic document.

The Strategy is the basic medium-term strategic and development document that defines policies, goals and measures for the development of agriculture and rural areas in the Federation of BiH in a period programmatically aligned with the duration of the current Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. It defines the goals and priorities for the development of agriculture and rural development in the Federation of BiH until 2027, the method of their achievement, the financial and institutional framework for implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Also, producers, buyers, processors and other sector actors are in a position to plan production, sales and investments more readily and with higher quality, which should result in more sustainable development of the agricultural sector.

"The Strategy, among other things, introduces a new approach to the development of rural areas and increases the volume of investments while increasing the share of public funds in investment support. A new concept of connecting agricultural producers with buyers and processors is promoted, based on the establishment of strong producer groups and producer organizations, with special emphasis on the development of agricultural cooperatives and the organization of farmers within the cooperative organization. It stimulates an increase in the quality of agricultural and food products, the introduction and maintenance of international standards, and the reduction of negative environmental impacts. Direct payments are simplified and converted into single payments per hectare and per livestock unit, which leaves room for cantonal ministries to additionally support their productions that are of particular importance to them from their budgets, whereby all producers in the Federation of BiH should have as uniform conditions for production as possible given the level of support," the Ministry's statement reads.

They add that there is a strong emphasis on strengthening the system of knowledge and information transfer and the development of a modern agricultural advisory service.

"Special, additional supports are planned for producers in areas with natural limitations for agricultural production that are threatened by strong depopulation and the cessation of agricultural activity. A special support line is being introduced for young farmers who take over the management of agricultural holdings with the aim of stabilizing income and supporting investments," the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry announced.