Domestic production, the pillar of agricultural and economic development
Organized by the company BIMAL dd Brčko and the Institute for Agricultural Development and Improvement IRUP Brčko, the traditional, and this year also the jubilee, 20th Oilseeds Day was held in Brčko today.
This is a unique gathering of agricultural producers, organizers of agricultural production, professional institutions, and government institutions, where valuable conclusions are made each year for all actors in the agriculture sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the beginning of this year’s gathering, the attendees in the amphitheater of the European University were addressed by Damir Bulčević, President of the Assembly of Brčko District BiH, Anto Domić, Deputy Mayor of Brčko District BiH, Siniša Milić, Mayor of Brčko District BiH, and the event was officially opened by Ilija Studen, President of the Board of STUDEN Holding and General Director of BIMAL.
The central event of Oilseeds Day was a professional panel discussion, featuring Ilija Studen, President of the Board of STUDEN Holding, Kemal Hrnjić, Minister of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry of the Federation of BiH, Amir Softić, Head of the Department for Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management of the Government of Brčko District BiH, Mato Brkić, Minister of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry of Posavina Canton, Saša Lalić, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry, and Rural Development of Republika Srpska, Ljubiša Dukić, Director of VITA LAND Gradiška, and Siniša Šišić, COSMOCEL Belgrade. The panel was moderated by Ševal Suljkanović, Executive Director for Economic Affairs at BIMAL dd.
The panelists spoke about the importance of domestic production and incentives in agricultural production as the pillar of agricultural and economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a rich discussion and constructive debate, several conclusions were reached at this gathering. It was emphasized that synchronization of incentive measures provided by the entities and Brčko District BiH for their agricultural producers is necessary. Furthermore, the issue faced by farmers who own and cultivate land in both entities, or in one or both entities and the District, was highlighted, as they can only receive incentives based on their place of residence and not the location of the land they cultivate. Also emphasized was the need for a joint approach by the entities and the District to pre-accession funds, as well as a better systemic approach to agricultural development, the creation of a stable market, encouragement of economic investments, and linking the education system with the economy. The conclusion of the gathering was also that support for innovation and the introduction of modern technologies in production is essential.
BIMAL General Director Ilija Studen emphasized that the most important link in the entire system is the farmer, without whom neither the work of the company nor the ministries would be meaningful. He expressed hope that villages will not be abandoned and emphasized that our company is available to organize additional meetings and discussions on all these topics between government representatives and the agricultural sector, as it has been doing since the privatization of BIMAL when the company began working on gathering and educating farmers.
At the end of Oilseeds Day, the guaranteed purchase prices for grain for this year were announced, and certificates of appreciation were presented to collaborators and partners, production organizers, producers, women, and young people in agriculture.
