Shtip, 27 August 2023 (MIA) — The National Farmers Network has asked the government to declare a state of climate emergency across the entire territory of the country.

According to network representative Gjorgi Karakashev, climate change has threatened farmers' livelihood, with scorching temperatures and rainstorms making conditions ripe for diseases to spread amid agricultural crops.

Karakashev said grape growers would see low yields this year, and wheat and barley production had declined in quality. He said Kochani rice and Resen apples growers were facing the same problems.

"Floods and diseases have caused devastating damage," he said.

"We also had hailstorms. Enormously high temperatures followed immediately after, and this made production conditions even worse."

"We are now witnessing severe damage in some crops, ranging from 50 to 100 percent. Farmers are in a very delicate situation. They literally can't get through the season," Karakashev said.

This is why the National Farmers Network ten days ago asked the government for water bill cuts and price adjustments for all agricultural crops.

In their as yet unanswered request, they also asked that Kochani rice be declared a strategic crop. mr/