Skopje, 3 July 2024 (MIA) - Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy Cvetan Tripunovski announced Wednesday that the Commodity Reserves Agency will procure 15,000 tons of wheat exclusively from Macedonian producers, with no imports involved, following a meeting with representatives of agricultural associations and grain buyers.

Tripunovski revealed that at the government session yesterday, the decision to announce the procurement was halted with the goal, as he stated, “to change all the rules of the game so that Macedonian wheat will be the one to be bought.”

Additionally, Tripunovski announced that the deadline for the wheat and barley storage measure will be extended, aiming to support all farmers who are unable or unwilling to sell their wheat by allowing them to store it, with the state covering the associated costs.

“We will follow the process of the wheat harvest and the procurement of bread grain. The situation that we are inheriting is relatively difficult, but what is very important is that after this harvest, we will work on structural changes to ensure that we do not face these problems for the 2025 harvest. Each year, during the harvest season, we will address issues as they arise and work on defining prices,” Tripunovski said.

Vaska Mojsovska, President of the National Federation of Farmers, stated that their organization will advocate for future adherence to the agreed-upon production levels and the Law on Agricultural and Rural Development. She emphasized that they will oversee the entire wheat procurement process and, using analyses from their members, will provide future recommendations for strategic actions to ensure the preservation of essential wheat and barley.

Goran Malishikj, President of the Milling and Baking Industry Group at the Chamber of Commerce, announced today that the group purchases wheat at market prices, and the maximum price for wheat currently on the market is around 12 denars. “We fully support the Ministry’s efforts to develop future programs that will protect farmers and lead to higher yields and better quality in the future,” Malishikj said.

Photo: MIA archive/Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy