Nearly 30 million grants to farmers for two years, for 27% the number of applications during pandemic increases

On the other hand, he said the pandemic had no negative effect, even according to him, the positive effects were noted in the growth of apps, where they reached 27 percent more than last year.

“The rural development program or grants programme for 2020 and 2021 is a joint programme and achieves the value of 29m euros”.

We're actually growing applications for 27% compared to 2019. So the pandemic didn't have a negative effect, it actually had a positive effect on the growth of the app for 27% and we facilitated the application process by completely carrying the application process online for grants”.

Minister Mustafa stressed there has been no reduction in the budget and as part of the economic recovery package, this ministry has added 24m euros to the share of subsidies.

There was no reduction in the budget, but there is still the same one that was both before the pandemic and after the pandemic and as part of the economic recovery package, the Ministry of Agriculture has added 24m euros to the budget for the share of subsidies which we have legal obligation to soon announce the share of criteria and procedures and how we share those means for our farmers<1>.

He said wheat productivity has doubled this year, adding that the growth of crops in 2020 compared to 2019 is significantly better, reports EO.

Now it's a wide list of products, so I'm unable to list productivity for everyone, but I'm looking at wheat, it's almost double wheat productivity this year”

So we have a very good year in terms of agricultural cultures and we expect productivity growth this year, but above all we have noticed an increase in crops in 2020 compared to 2019”, he added.

As for the irrigation system, Minister Mustafa said he has a 15-year plan for the entire territory of Kosovo.

“As for the irrigation system, we will have a 15-year plan for the entire territory in Kosovo and in terms of capital investments”, he told EO.