Serafimovski: Ministry to support sales and pricing of Kochani rice
The minister pledged financial help for last year’s harvest, further analysis after the season, and called for processors to pay according to the pricing methodology.
Minister Borche Serafimovski said the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy is actively engaged in addressing problems with the marketing, production and pricing of rice, speaking today in Gorno Podlog during the 35th edition of the "Days of Kochani Rice" festival.
“What we see today is proof that rice as a crop is more than important and therefore we as a Ministry are seriously involved in solving problems in the area of placement, production, sales and, of course, the price of rice,” Serafimovski said, stressing the sector's significance for the region.
Serafimovski added that he has already held several meetings with rice growers and representatives of buying-and-processing centres, including a recent gathering in the Municipality of Cheshinovo-Obleshevo.
State support and follow-up analysis
“We as a state will further stand behind rice producers and financially help them for last year’s harvest. Also, at the end of this season we will carry out an additional analysis and decide what assistance they should receive. The main thing is that we must preserve the quality of the rice, and processors must pay it according to the methodology for price calculation,” the minister said.
He also reminded that buyers have a legal obligation to publish prices at purchase centres, and said that the announcements should be made during the coming week.
Earlier the same day, Fani Karanfilova-Panovska, vice-president of SDSM, warned that the situation of Macedonian rice producers is catastrophic and that without urgent financial support there is a risk that fields will remain unplanted next year.
Photo: press material from the event
