North Macedonia owes €70 million to farmers as subsidies stall

The Macedonian government has accumulated a debt of about €70 million to farmers for various agricultural bases, while subsidy payments have been delayed for months. As a result, farmers lack cash support, face uncertain grain prices and are forced to contemplate selling at a low price of roughly 10 denars per kilogram. The state has not provided a purchasing market, and new ministerial appointments from the ZNAM party have not resolved the issue. The opposition party LSDM has demanded that the government immediately pay all outstanding subsidies, guarantee fair and secure purchase prices for strategic agricultural products, and take urgent measures to protect domestic production.

The situation reflects broader fiscal difficulties within the Macedonian budget and a lack of coherent policy to support the agricultural sector.