National Agricultural Network says boycott and moratorium will continue indefinitely

The National Agricultural Network announced that it will scale back domestic activities and continue its boycott and moratorium indefinitely, a protest that began at the start of this month, the organization said.

Farmers shift from domestic pressure to international cooperation

In explanation for the decision, the Network said: "Enough of fighting behind closed doors and against an institutional wall." President Gjorgji Karakashev told journalists the move follows repeated failures by domestic institutions to heed farmers' demands.

"Ignoring our voices by the institutions is direct proof that agriculture and farmers have been reduced to zero and pushed to the margins of society, therefore we decided not to tolerate that silence any more, because the consequences of this neglect directly strike at the standard of living of every citizen and threaten the basic survival of our families," Karakashev added.

Members of the National Agricultural Network have repeatedly warned in recent weeks that North Macedonian agriculture is facing one of the most serious crises in its recent history, and argued that the farmers' voice must be heard.

With the domestic boycott in place, the Network said it will concentrate on concrete projects and on building close cooperation with international partner organizations that understand the value of farmers. The group did not specify a date to end the moratorium.

Photo: press material from the event