The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management organised a conference at the European House regarding the announcement of the 5th Public Call of the European Union’s Agriculture and Rural Development IPARD II Programme for Measure 1 “Investments in physical assets of agricultural holdings.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management, Vladimir Joković emphasised the importance of the IPARD programme for Montenegrin farmers. “The potential for agricultural production in Montenegro is great, but still not fully utilised. In order to improve the Montenegrin agriculture, Montenegro must be prepared to use all possible mechanisms. One of those mechanisms is the IPARD programme, which will help strengthen the Montenegrin agriculture, as well as our administration, during the integration process and prepare us for the moment of accession to the European Union when we will be able to directly implement the Common Agricultural Policy.”
Montenegrin farmers and institutions have great support from European partners, said Mr. Frank Bollen, Head of Unit for Neighbourhood Enlargement and Pre-Accession Assistance of the European Commission, who spoke at the conference via an online platform. He highlighted the importance of the IPARD programme.
“The IPARD grants are an excellent opportunity to improve your agricultural sector, by allowing Montenegro to become more self-sustained regarding food, energy, and economic development. At the same time, the IPARD programme helps in respecting the environment and offers new digital solutions. If there is a sector in Montenegro that can deliver more and better for the future, that is agriculture. And that is why the European Union is making this funding available to you. Together with the national authorities, we want to support farmers and agribusinesses with plans and a clear vision. There is a lot of EU support for you and the sector!”
Mr. Sreten Batrovic, a vegetable and crop producer from Zeta, presented his experience as a beneficiary of the IPARD programme’s support funds. He received support within framework III of the public call through Measure 1
for acquisition of equipment and machinery. Mr. Batrovic took the opportunity to call on farmers to apply to the public call. “During the application process, employees of the Ministry and advisory services provided significant support to me, and although the documentation is extensive, I think the support that can be obtained is much more valuable. The work on my farm has been made easier and more efficient, and I want to share this opportunity with other farmers who are interested in obtaining support.”
Investments are supported in the following sectors of agricultural production: dairy farming, cattle breeding, sheep breeding, goat farming, pig farming, poultry farming, fruit growing, vegetable growing, crop farming, mushroom and fungi cultivation, aromatic and medicinal plant cultivation, viticulture, olive growing, beekeeping, fishery, and aquaculture. Investments with eligible costs ranging from €10,000 to €500,000 are supported, and the amount of support ranges from 60% to 70% of the total eligible costs per project. Only the purchase of machinery and necessary equipment is supported.
Minister Joković reminded that this is the eleventh public call since the beginning of the implementation of the IPARD II programme in Montenegro, and the fifth public call published to support the primary production sector. “Through four public calls for Measure 1 published so far, a total of 475 projects have been contracted with investment values of about €42.93 million, and expected support is about €23.6 million. So far, 298 projects have been paid with support in the total amount of €11.7 million.”
It was emphasised that an intensive promotional campaign is starting, and that workshops for interested parties will be held in all Montenegrin cities. The schedule will be posted on the IPARD website.
After the conference, a presentation for consulting firms and employees in advisory services will be held in the Old Government Building, so that they can also contribute to further spreading information with the aim of encouraging as many farmers as possible to recognise its significance and apply for it.
Finally, Minister Joković invited all interested parties to apply for the public call and participate in the workshops. He pointed out that, during the public call, the Directorate for Payments will organise “open door” days where every interested user, in direct communication with employees working on the implementation of this public call, will solve all their doubts.