Venko Filipche announces emergency purchase and compensation after farmers report red pepper losses

Venko Filipche, president of SDSM, held meetings with farmers in Obrshani (Krivogaštani municipality) and in Debreshte (Dolneni municipality), where producers from several sectors raised complaints about this year’s harvest and sale conditions.

Farmers described the situation in agriculture as critical, saying large parts of the crop — notably red peppers — have spoiled because they were not bought in time. Those from Obrshani and nearby villages explicitly told Filipche that the authorities had misled them about the purchase and collection of the red pepper harvest.

Party proposes emergency measures

Filipche said SDSM will prepare concrete proposals to provide financial support to affected farmers. He announced that the party intends to put forward measures aimed at preventing further losses and compensating those already harmed.

As he explained to the gathered producers, "We will submit a proposed measure for emergency purchase and a guaranteed appropriate price of 30 denars per kilogram for those quantities of red pepper that were not purchased, and for those farmers whose peppers have already spoiled and been destroyed because there was no purchase, compensation should be provided."

According to Filipche, the draft measures will include an intervention purchase at the guaranteed price for unsold quantities and a compensation mechanism for farmers whose produce was lost. He said SDSM will work to have the proposal considered by relevant authorities.

Farmers at both meetings urged faster action and clearer signals from the state about procurement and support, saying delays and unclear commitments contributed to the losses this season.

Photo: press material from the event