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Zagreb - MPs of the ruling majority on Thursday spoke of positive steps in domestic agriculture, while the opposition complained about import growth, saying Croatia is importing even grass, sawdust and cereals for rodents.
Croatia imports grass for rodents from Austria, sawdust from Hungary and cereals from Italy, Davor Dretar of the Homeland Movement said during a debate on amendments to the Agriculture Act.
Davor Bernardić of the Social Democrats asked why food import was rising despite high outlays for agriculture, and said foreign retail lobbies were generating extra profits in Croatia.
Ivan Kirin of the ruling HDZ said food import had grown and problems in agriculture deepened since Croatia joined the EU. The agriculture strategy should be changed, as food self-sufficiency is a guarantee of independence, he added.
Agriculture Ministry state secretary Tugomir Majdak said last year saw an increase in the foreign trade balance relating to agricultural and food products. Our strategic goal is to increase the production volume in strategic sectors, notably cattle-breeding, he added.
Independent Marijana Petir said farmers would not be able to manage without state aid, and Majdak added that they would definitely be less competitive.
Marijan Pavliček of the opposition Sovereignists welcomed the increase from 7% to 14% of land for ecological production, but asked why Croatia is below the European average in total production.
Majdak said "our output" was growing by the year, reaching HRK 22.6 billion in 2021, and that the goal was to reach HRK 30 billion annually by 2030.
HDZ MPs boasted that 38 Croatian products are protected. Stipan Šašlin asked how Croatia's accession to the euro and Schengen areas on 1 January would impact agriculture.
These amendments will enable farmers to benefit from new interventions as of 1 January, Majdak said, adding that €3.8 billion is available for a period of five years.
He also said Croatia has 23 producer organisations and that those registered as associations have until 2027 to change their legal status to become more competitive and acceptable for new investment measures.
(€1 = HRK 7.5)