Responsibilities among producers, buyers and processors will be more clearly defined, while farmers will have greater certainty about selling their produce. Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Minister Borçe Serafimovski said this during a public debate on the new draft law on the regulation of agricultural product markets, held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy.

Speaking to representatives of agricultural associations, cooperatives, producers, buyers, processors, chambers of commerce, and scientific and professional institutions, Serafimovski said agriculture could no longer rely on imposed, ad hoc solutions. The aim, he said, is to build a system that identifies risks early, brings order to markets and reduces uncertainty for producers. He stressed that farmers should not have to bear production risks alone and learn the terms of sale only after harvesting, when their options are limited.

The minister explained that the draft law treats organized purchasing, contractual relationships, market information, intervention measures during serious disruptions, producer organizations, school schemes, the promotion of Macedonian products and market standards as parts of a single system. He clarified that it does not provide for administratively set purchase prices. Instead, it proposes clear rules, greater transparency and mechanisms that allow institutions to act in time.

According to Serafimovski, agreements must be honored, delivered products must be measured and graded fairly, and farmers must be paid within the specified deadline. A written contract will be signed before delivery and will set out in advance the quantity, quality, price or method of calculating it, payment deadline and related costs. The rules will apply equally to everyone, and violations will carry consequences, he stressed.

Traceability and oversight of organized purchasing will be improved through electronic records and public data on registered buyers, the minister explained. The agricultural market information system and national observatory will provide data on production, supply, demand, stocks, prices, imports and exports. This, he said, will enable institutions to identify risks earlier and target agricultural policies more accurately.

Serafimovski said the aim is to plan ahead before products are left without a market and to bring production gradually into line with actual and potential demand, within market conditions. He added that the market economy cannot be used as a reason for a lack of transparency, unilateral changes to terms or shifting the entire burden onto producers.

A significant part of the draft law is devoted to producer organizations and groups, their associations, operational programs and opportunities for financial support. The minister said joint planning, standardized quality, a consolidated supply and an organized approach to the market would increase farmers’ bargaining power and their ability to reach larger buyers. A farmer is stronger when not entering the market alone, he said; that is why conditions are being created for producers to cooperate, plan together and offer larger quantities, consistent quality and a stronger negotiating position.

The proposal also includes instruments for public intervention and support for private storage when the market faces serious disruptions or an imminent risk of them. Serafimovski said the draft law is being aligned with European Union rules on the common organization of agricultural markets, with attention to its practical implementation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the Agency for Financial Support in Agriculture and Rural Development, inspection services and businesses.

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