EUR 650.000 grant for Montenegrin farmers provided through MIDAS fourth public call

Podgorica, Montenegro (21 May 2014) – Twenty-one agricultural producers from nine Montenegro’s municipalities signed on Tuesday contracts for grant support under the MIDAS Fourth Call for projects in agriculture in the total amount of EUR 650.000.

Minister Ivanović said the practice of increasing number of farmers participating in the project is continuing with the signing of the grant agreements.

"In 2013, we signed 244 contracts and along with the contracts we have signed today we have 266 active agreements, with the support value of EUR 3.7 million. Of all investments, 32 have already been completed and the applicants were provided with EUR 320.000 of support over the past few months,” he stated, adding that 414 investments have been successfully completed through the previous four public calls, which supported more than EUR 7 million of investment in primary agricultural production.

In the coming period, the Agriculture Minister continued, the support will move towards the processing industry. Minister Ivanović advised farmers to take advantage of the support which will be available through the next public calls in order to boost production, raise standards and prepare themselves for using the IPARD support starting from 1 January 2016.

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Ivanović reminded, during the Brussels talks, have managed to increase the amount of funding planned for agriculture by 2020, which currently totals EUR 53 million, instead of the initial EUR 24 million.

"The amount of EUR 39 million will be available through the IPARD programmes. By 2020, approximately EUR 100 million will be available to Montenegro’s agriculture through various forms of support. This is good news. Therefore, I think we should be more committed to working diligently, making and creating wealth, step by step, as this goal is achievable," Minister Ivanović concluded.