Montenegrin farmers are demanding that 5% of the national budget be allocated to agriculture, asserting that without this support, there will be no future, food security or prosperity, as stated at the Second National Forum on Agriculture, Food Security and Prosperity.
Montenegrin farmers face numerous challenges, and overcoming them requires stronger institutional support, conditions for young people to remain in rural areas and a more competitive system to rival European producers.
Boško Miličić, representing the Agricultural Cluster of Montenegro, said that supporting the “Five Fair” initiative is crucial for the future of agriculture.
“The ‘Five Fair’ campaign is not just a demand—it’s a movement, a fight for the survival and development of Montenegro’s rural areas. We demand that 5% of the national budget be allocated to agriculture because without this, there is no future, no food security, and no prosperity. ‘Five Fair’ is not just a number; it symbolizes justice for every farmer who wakes up before dawn, fights against bad weather, and feeds this country. This campaign calls for responsibility from all decision-makers and an opportunity to create a long-term development strategy. They must not turn a blind eye to those who produce food but must offer them the support they deserve,” said Miličić.
A developed agriculture system tailored to the European market is essential for EU membership, as the EU allocates almost 3% of its total budget to this sector.
Ricardo Seri, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, emphasized that Montenegro has solid support on its path to EU membership and noted plans to temporarily close the agriculture chapter this year.
“We have the new IPARD 3 program, through which we are making available around 69 million EUR in EU funds. This is real, concrete support aimed at modernizing the sector, improving competitiveness, and preparing Montenegro for the highly competitive EU market. The first element is that we have the funds, and the second key element is that national and local authorities must continue investing in building appropriate institutions and systems that can fully absorb this support and prepare the country for the day when Montenegro becomes a full EU member,” Seri said.
Miroslav Cimbaljević from the Ministry of Agriculture claimed that the government recognizes the importance of agriculture and is working to improve the position of farmers. He emphasized that all requests related to EU membership are being considered.
“This year, we must fully align with EU legislation and harmonize all laws, which is a challenge for both the Ministry of Agriculture’s administration and agricultural producers. The application of these laws will require changes to some previous practices. Furthermore, when creating agricultural policy measures, we must fully align with the Common Agricultural Policy. Currently, direct payments for agricultural production make up about 80% of the budget, and this percentage must be significantly reduced,” said Cimbaljević.
During this transitional period, efforts must be made to educate how to best utilize EU funds to strengthen agricultural production.
Cimbaljević also highlighted that Montenegro is one of the countries with the best utilization of the IPARD 3 program and announced plans to open agriculture centers in six regional locations.
“We already have an agriculture center in Bijelo Polje. Tenders have been issued for Berane and Pljevlja. Very soon, there will also be one in Nikšić, and an agriculture center will be established in Podgorica, while a sixth will be built in Bar,” Cimbaljević said.
As part of its EU accession, Montenegro must also align its food safety regulations. Vladimir Đaković, Director of the Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Directorate, stated that farmers will receive support in this area as well.
“We will organize a larger number of educational programs for our agricultural producers in accordance with the laws to ensure the production of safe food in our market,” said Đaković.
Local governments are also offering assistance. Nemanja Vuković, President of the Nikšić Municipal Assembly, reminded that subsidies, which farmers had been waiting for 12 years, have now been increased and paid.
“We plan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, to build an agriculture center in our city, and we have made progress in this process. We also plan to establish an agriculture secretariat,” said Vuković.
The Second National Forum on Agriculture was organized by the Agricultural Cluster of Montenegro in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management, the Municipality of Nikšić, and strategic partner MFI Alter Modus.
