SDSM: Farmers left to face rising costs

In North Macedonia, the main opposition party SDSM said in a written statement that farmers across the country face rising costs and a lack of support, while agricultural product prices have risen much more slowly. According to the party, agricultural production costs increased by 8.8 percent, while product prices rose by only 2.3 percent.

SDSM said the government has not implemented measures it proposed at the start of the crisis and noted that the IPARD programme has stalled after the arrest of a director said to be from VMRO-DPMNE. The statement said farmers cannot sell their products even at symbolic prices. The party also cited rising diesel and fertiliser prices, a lack of subsidies and purchase prices that have left farmers in a difficult position.

The party noted that Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has spoken of economic growth and higher salaries. SDSM said the government has not backed aid proposals in Parliament and, in its statement, called the situation "not an agricultural policy, but abandonment." The party demanded purchase guarantees, subsidies, fuel measures and a functioning IPARD programme.