nFARMING SUBSIDIES TRIPLE THIS YEAR

The allocation for agricultural subsidies this year has been projected at 1.2 billion denars, which is three times last year's amount. The funds will be realized through four assistance programs - for encouraging agricultural development, for development of organic agricultural production, for funding primary tobacco production and for rural development.

"The Government stays the course of permanently increasing its direct agricultural assistance until Macedonia joins the EU. This policy aims to overcome the adverse structure of the agriculture, attain European quality and increase competition," said Deputy Prime Minister Zivko Jankulovski at a news conference Tuesday.

In Mr. Jankulovski's words, the implementation of the four programs is in fact preparing Macedonia's economy for the common European market and is taking the country closer to the EU standards for food quality and safety.

"The Macedonian agricultural and food products should adhere to the demands of the home and European markets in terms of price, quality and consumers' expectations," Mr. Jankulovski stressed.

Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Stavreski emphasized that through the subsidizing programs of 20 million euros, the Government fulfilled as early as now instead of 2010 its pre-election pledge for providing a substantially bigger financial aid for the agriculture.

Source: MIC