RECORD PACE IN PAYMENT OF INCENTIVES AND SIGNIFICANT MODERNIZATION OF MACHINERY

Kuzmić stressed that in the coming period the Ministry would continue with record payments of agricultural incentives and was already preparing a redistribution of the budget for next year, when it would further strengthen its focus and direct funds where they were most needed - to irrigation systems, hail-protection nets and new technologies.

By: Jelena SAVIĆ

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 28 /SRNA/ - The Republika Srpska Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management has ensured a record pace and regularity in the payment of agricultural incentives, with around 90 percent of registered incentives paid this year ahead of the prescribed deadlines, Minister Anđelka Kuzmić told SRNA.

Kuzmić said significant results had been achieved in the modernization of machinery through domestic and international programmes, including the procurement of 84 tractors.

"Agriculture remains one of the key pillars of the economy, accounting for around seven percent of GDP, which is among the highest percentages in Europe. This sector represents the most important resource that Srpska has," Kuzmić said in an interview with SRNA.

She stressed that strong financial support for agriculture had been secured through a stable agricultural budget of BАМ 180 million.

FOCUS ON IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND HAIL-PROTECTION NETS

Kuzmić noted that there can be no sustainable agriculture without systematic irrigation, given increasingly frequent droughts as well as other adverse weather conditions, which is why the Ministry strongly encouraged the introduction of irrigation systems and hail-protection nets.

"Where these measures have been applied, we have achieved exceptional yields despite the drought. Over the past year, our hail-protection system has proved extremely strong and effective, with automatic stations, so unlike the region and Europe, which recorded damage worth millions, we had only sporadic cases," Kuzmić said.

Kuzmić stressed that in the coming period the Ministry would continue with record payments of incentives and was already preparing a redistribution of the budget for next year, when it would further strengthen its focus and direct funds where they were most needed - to irrigation systems, hail-protection nets and new technologies.

MEASURES TO REVIVE ŠUME COMPANY AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH TIMBER PROCESSORS

Speaking about the challenges faced by the Ministry in the past period regarding the stabilization of the operations of Šume Republike Srpske forestry company, Kuzmić cited the preparation of an Action Plan to remedy deficiencies following a negative audit report for 2024, as well as the successful rescheduling of tax liabilities amounting to BAM 17 million.

"We secured guarantees from the Republika Srpska Government for a BAM 15 million loan, established a new price list for forest timber assortments, amended the company's Statute, appointed a special monitoring team and ordered urgent measures," Kuzmić said.

Regarding this year, she said that physical production indicators were very good, average prices were stable, there were no declared forest timber assortments in stock, and demand was good.

"This reasonably points to good business results at the end of the year. Also, at our proposal, the Government provided nearly BAM 400,000 for the procurement of pheromones and traps for effective protection of forests against bark beetles," Kuzmić said.

She noted that through the budget rebalance for this year, the Ministry had secured an additional BAM 1 million to subsidize production at "Šume", in order to mitigate disruptions in production caused by rising fuel prices and ensure a stable supply of raw materials to the domestic timber-processing sector.

"These subsidies are paid directly to forestry contractors on the basis of monthly reports, while transparent allocation procedures are precisely defined by the Rulebook. We have also made significant progress in cooperation with processors through the successfully completed procedure for signing five-year contracts for the purchase and delivery of forest timber assortments with 83 companies from the list of final and semi-final timber processors, thereby guaranteeing them long-term security of raw material supplies," Kuzmić stressed.

She recalled that at the end of last year, the Republika Srpska Government adopted a new Strategy for the Development of Forestry in Srpska, as well as an Action Plan for the 2026-2028 period, thereby laying clear foundations for modern and sustainable management of the most valuable forest resources.

Kuzmić said that they had also successfully completed the process of awarding sports and recreational hunting grounds to hunting associations for a period of 10 years, while 14 commercial hunting grounds and six special hunting grounds had been assigned to "Šume" for temporary management.

SUCCESSFUL CONTROL OF EPIZOOTIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES AND RESUMPTION OF EXPORTS TO EU

According to her, the results achieved in the veterinary sector over the past year are also extremely significant, including the successful control and containment of African swine fever.

"Thanks to a responsible chain - from inspections and veterinarians to producers - we prevented scenarios of mass spread. With a total of 304 pigs euthanized and the fact that we have had a stable period without new cases in Srpska, we have demonstrated the operational capacity of the system," Kuzmić said.

She pointed out that following a rapid response to the outbreak of avian influenza in Petrovo at the beginning of the year and the containment of the outbreak, confirmation was obtained from the European Commission and the EU market was reopened for exports of fresh poultry meat, which represents a major economic success for the domestic economy.

MULTI-MILLION CAPITAL PROJECTS IN WATER MANAGEMENT SECTOR

Speaking about the water management sector, the Minister said that over the past year they had launched major projects and processes that had been awaited for decades, demonstrating that investment in the protection of citizens and property was greater than ever.

"We have brought order to the area of public water resources and registered more than 700 illegally constructed facilities so that they can be placed under strict institutional control. We have also prepared a draft new Law on Water Services, aligned with EU standards, which for the first time systematically regulates water supply and urban wastewater treatment in a unified manner," Kuzmić said.

She said that millions of BAM had been secured for watercourse regulation in the Doboj area, for flood-protection solutions on the Bosna, Spreča and Usora rivers, and announced works on the canal network in the municipality of Modriča and the construction of a flood-protection embankment on the Drina River in the Karakaj settlement.

"The rehabilitation of the Sava riverbank in Šamac is under way, as is the rehabilitation of the right bank of the Vrbas at the Martinac site near Srbac. We have also launched the modernization of the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute in cooperation with the French national meteorological service. Together with the World Bank, we are implementing an important irrigation project in Semberija covering around 350 hectares," Kuzmić said.

She stressed that Republika Srpska was entering a major agricultural reform in the coming period, the ultimate goal of which was for domestic agriculture, forestry and the entire rural sector to become fully self-sufficient, resilient and independent, because a country that has its own food and resources is strong and prosperous.