Agriculture production increased by 7% last year, the most since 2008

The 28th Bjelovar International Autumn Fair, at which more than 300 exhibitors from Croatia and abroad will be presenting their products until 5 September, was opened on Friday by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Plenković said that agriculture was of strategic importance for food quality and the shaping of the country's landscapes.

"In the last government term we increased farm incentives by HRK 7 billion and paid out a total of HRK 28 billion," the PM said, adding that the government had helped farmers with an extra one billion kuna during the pandemic.

Five billion kuna has been secured in talks with the European Commission for the farm sector for the period until 2027, he said, adding that the target was for Croatia's agricultural production to amount to HRK 30 billion annually by 2030.

In the period from 2023 to 2037, €3.42 billion from EU agricultural funds will be made available to Croatian farmers, the condition for drawing that money being a strategic plan. By that period, in line with provisional regulations, €1.5 billion has been secured for rural development in 2021 and 2022, plus an additional €131 million for the implementation of reforms as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The International Autumn Fair is the first fair to be organised by the Bjelovar Trade Fair Centre in that city, some 80 kilometres east of Zagreb, after more than a year and a half. During the next three days, visitors will be able to see new products in the farm sector, farm equipment and machines, as well as attend lectures and entertainment programmes.

The fair also includes a national livestock show, to be attended by 120 exhibitors.

Visitors are expected to have a certificate proving that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or a negative test, and free testing will be available at the entrance to the fair venue.

Text: Hina

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