The Ministry has made 6 public calls so far within MIDAS project and one public call IPARD-like 1 that was focused on strengthening of primary agricultural production in order to increase production, and further processing.
“We are now, for the first time, moving forward in an organized manner, towards processing, increase of value and continued policy of creating new employment positions, as well as trying to substitute import with home-grown products. I expect investments in processing to be over 11 million EUR, new standards, better quality of products, decrease in expenses and a more competitive market “, Ivanović said.
We are not giving money away before the elections
Certain media accused Ivanović of publishing these calls in the election year on purpose. He strongly denied.
“This is simply not true. We have been fighting to publish this call ever since February 2013, precisely because we are thinking of agriculture producers. I am very happy that we managed a successful collaboration with the World Bank and European Commission in making this call. I have said on numerous occasions that we cannot adjust agriculture to election cycles, simply because there are natural cycles that are independent of our desires. Also, we are not giving money away before the elections, we are signing contracts with agriculture producers, and they need to independently, from their own resources or by taking a credit, to provide money and realize planned investment. These are contractual obligations. Only when commissions check out if the realized investments are in accordance with signed contracts, we will make a refund of one part of the investment “, Ivanović said.
Ministry announced opening of another dairy farm in the North. This investment is completely justified, because, although dairy farm Nika has been closed, farmers in the North have a problem with distribution of milk.
“Dairy farm “Nika” in Nikšić was not closed for problems of market distribution, but because of bad management and irresponsible relationship with suppliers and employees. I expect that during the bankruptcy process an investor will come forth, who will renew production in “Nika”. This is not an easy task, because it is an investment with low return rate. Two big dairy farms, one in the central and one in the northern region, are necessary for further development of dairy sector. Aside from opening new employment positions, it is important that we keep the existing network of agricultural producers and that we make standards of production higher. Construction of dairy farm “Milkkraft” in Pavino polje represents a chance for secure market placement of quality milk made by producers in the North of Montenegro. In this way, we connect primary production with processing “, Ivanović explained.
Unhappy with the relationship with Directorate of Estate
When asked by CdM how much land is farmed in Montenegro, and what is the average in EU, Ivanović said that more and more farmed land is in private ownership.
“The rate of use of fertile agricultural land in Montenegro is no less than in EU. However, the problem is that there is not a whole lot of fertile land in Montenegro, and what we have is fragmented. This is why every square meter counts, regardless of whether it is owned by state or privately”, Ivanović said.
He is not at all pleased with the relationship with the Directorate of Estate when it comes to matters significant for agricultural development.
“One can get an impression that they are trying to slow down development opportunities in this area. Unfortunately, that is motivated politically, and not by healthy logic or estimated potentials. We have been seeking for years date on registered parcels that are in the state name and farmable, so that we could offer them on public call to interested parties who would farm it. According to the Law, Directorate of Estate is in charge of this data. But, even after tens of millions of EUR given for further development of Directorate of Estate’s programs, we cannot receive this data. This concretely shows us their relationship with the future generations, state’s development, and employment. If empty words and explanations were measured in tons, these people would have record production”, Ivanović said.
More work, less talk
What would be Minister’s message to the citizens, what to do?
“I would recommend that they work and then work some more. Talking brings nothing, work does. It is not up to me to tell anyone what to do, but to create opportunities for higher production, higher employment, higher value etc. This is what me and my colleagues are doing. There was never more money to invest in agriculture than now. Employment rates in the third quarter in agriculture have reached a record of 19.100”, Ivanović said.
There was never more attention paid to the education of agricultural producers than today.
“We are very dedicated to construction of rural infrastructure. In three years we made hundreds of kilometers of village roads and built 50 waterlines. Certain opposition leaders are bothered by that, calling these works ‘’too little’’. But there were never to be fund when we dug out kilometers and kilometers of channels, pipes, pumps.. A significant number of citizens contact us daily with their initiatives, and we are trying, within the limits of our budget, to create better living conditions in the rural area. I am aware that we cannot do it all at once. Citizens know this as well. But we are trying, together, and I would say that we are succeeding together”, the Minister said.
Black dog cannot turn red
It is good that young people are willing and able to get involved in rural industries.
“Have you noticed how many young people were in the media lately? Beautiful young people, nicely dressed, not far behind from their peers in bigger cities. They are in focus because they are doing something and working hard. They are creating, contributing to society’s development, making progress”, Ivanović said.
However, two newspapers are ‘’dying’’ to find agricultural producers that would give them negative statements.
“The black dog cannot turn red, Dostoyevsky wrote. If your vision is black, there is no place for other colors. From the darkness and displeasure of others these media make money. They know this and they use it skillfully. But, other people’s misfortune never brought about anything good. We will continue with our programs of support to young people, we will continue to provide scholarships to who want to learn, we will continue building new roads and pipelines, that are such a thorn in the eyes of our opponents, we will continue to provide more money for investments. This process cannot be stopped”, Ivanović said.
Over 50 million a year is spent for coffee, tobacco, soda beverages and gums
The Government is often mentioned in negative light because we import products that we could produce on our own. This is how the Minister sees this situation.
“First of all, total import of agricultural products in 2015 is less for 19 million EUR compared to last year. At the same time, in 2015 we had 1,5 million more tourist nights. We can agree that tourists need to eat and drink while in Montenegro. If the import is decreased, we can only conclude that the production in Montenegro has increased. This is so called ‘’quiet export’’, trough tourism, that works the best for agriculture producers”, Ivanović said.
Secondly, he added, from the total of import of agricultural products in 2015 which was 465 million EUR, we must exclude products that were not meant for human consumption.
“This includes living stock, uneatable products of animal origin, trees, seeds, flowers, rubber, leftovers of food industry, etc. The total value of import of these things in 2015 was 61,8 million EUR. Also, we must exclude the value of import of agricultural products that are not all produced in Montenegro, or cannot be produced here due to natural conditions. In this category we have coffee, bananas, sunflower oil, sugar, soda beverages, fresh pig meat, wheat, cocoa based products etc. Value of the import of these products in 2015 was 203,9 million EUR. This means that Montenegro is importing 199 million EUR of products that could be produced at home. Of course, this is a big number and this is the market we need to fight for”, Ivanović explained.
As a third point he noted that in Montenegro 3,2 million EUR is spent on a yearly basis for chewing gums.
“If we add to this the value of imported coffee, tobacco and soda beverages, we see that we spend over 50 million EUR a year for resting with coffee, cigarettes, sodas and gums. It is simple to give comments and be a critic. We need to analyze these occurrences further, and to take into account the export and import of products, if we mean to make changes. I am afraid that critics of this kind are mostly said just to be that – critics, and not pointers for progress”, Ivanović noticed.
We need to plant more!
He recently said that he is worried about planting woods in Montenegro. Ministry has a simple strategy.
“We need to plant more! I invite all the NGOs, that worry about future, to write to the Ministry of Agriculture so we can proceed to planting in a organized manner. We put our future into danger if we are not organized when planting. Many activities in this area are neglected by Directorate for Forests and state gardens. There is no need for anyone to hide behind the Minister. Every employee has a responsibility to their job”, Ivanović said.
He made a comment on recent writings in the Vijesti, that said that his car was set on fire. Minister does not see this as an error of this media.
“It is not an error, not a provocation, but something much worse. All I thought about this case I demonstrated by suing. It will be interesting for me to see the relationship of institutions and public to planted evidence and lies. But, as long as the court proceedings are ongoing, I will refrain from making comments”, Ivanović concluded in his interview to CdM.
