Representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture (HGK) warned on Friday that the farm sector was facing collapse and that its losses ranged from HRK 1.5 to 2 billion, calling on the government and the competent ministry to act immediately.

HPK vice-president Zvonimir Sirjan said after a meeting of six HPK sector committees that sector losses amounted to between HRK 1.5 and 2 billion, while the Agriculture Ministry had offered emergency aid in the amount of some HRK 150 million.

“That is not enough for Croatian consumers to have Croatian products,” he warned.

If the farm sector collapses, consumers will be faced with major price hikes, he said. “The farm sector is on its knees, we cannot tell if it will survive until next spring,” he warned, noting that the ministry and the minister were also responsible.

He called on PM Andrej Plenkovic to support Croatian farmers in overcoming the current problems.

Another HPK representative, Micko Skemple, said that the ministry’s offer of help in the amount of HRK 150 million due to the COVID-19 crisis was humiliating, noting that the HPK wanted long and not short-term solutions for the sector.

Igor Resetar of the HPK’s Dairy Committee said that prices of fodder were sky-rocketing and that producers did not know how to continue with production.

Resetar said that as a short-term measure, farmers could be given one-off aid by 10 October, while another short-term measure would be to keep corn and oilseeds in the country by replenishing commodity stockpiles.

Speaking of long-term measures, he mentioned marking products made in Croatia, investing in renewable energy sources, dealing with the issue of farmland, and capital investments in cereals storage and processing.

The HPK noted that its further steps and demands would be determined at the next meeting of the HPK Steering Board.

Minister: We will activate all available mechanisms to help sector

Agriculture Minister Marija Vuckovic, commenting on the HPK’s demands, said that the farm sector was faced with market disruptions and blows and that the ministry would activate all available mechanisms to help it.

She said that a HRK 20 million support scheme for the dairy sector had been put to public consultation.

The minister said that her ministry had negotiated an additional increase in funds for animal welfare of HRK 220 million, along with new support, and put the situation in the farm sector on the agenda of the EU Council of Ministers, adding that a HRK 150 million aid scheme was being worked on.