Over 1,400 agricultural facilities in Sisak County damaged in earthquake

"We have contacted over 3,300 farmers by phone or by directly visiting them, and we have not been able to reach about 300 of them due to poor communication links, which we will do in the coming days," Majdak said in the programme "Croatian Radio for Banovina".

He said that about 200 units of agricultural machinery and equipment had also suffered damage and 60 farmers were having problems due to sinkholes opening up in their fields or geysers appearing.

Majdak recalled that information about reporting damage via an application was available on the Agriculture Ministry's website and that there were two warehouses for animal fodder in Glina and Petrinja, which work every day.

There is enough fodder, for which he thanked numerous donors who had donated more than 370 tonnes and inquired daily whether there was enough, and the Ministry has provided an additional 120 tonnes.

Not only reconstruction but also development

He underscored that it was necessary to establish a market in Sisak-Moslavina County, which had been damaged not only by the earthquake but also during the Homeland War, and at the moment the Ministry was organising buying so that farmers would get a fair price for their product.

"We are considering not only reconstruction but also development," Majdak stressed.

From day one, the Agriculture Ministry has been devising the simplest possible procedure for requests which farmers will submit to restore their potential and farm buildings. The procedure will be launched in February, he said.

Majdak said that for now, the main task was to keep the citizens from leaving, which was why housing containers were the priority now.

He added that they were in constant contact with the Gavrilović company, which would resume full operation on 25 January.

"We are negotiating and directing them to once again start cooperating with farmers with regards to livestock production and processing," he said.

He recalled that veterinary services had been on the ground since the start.

Since there was information that some farmers had sold their cattle below price after the earthquake, Majdak called on them one more time to communicate with the Agriculture Ministry.

"After the reports on irregularities, police (...) have conducted over 120 checks of cattle transport and have not determined any irregularities," he said, adding that they were continuing to cooperate with them.