Montenegro allocates about two percent of its national budget to the agricultural sector, which is above the EU average, said Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Vladimir Joković in the RTNK program Perspektiva.
Joković emphasized that while Montenegrin farmers receive relatively high budget support compared to many EU countries—where agricultural budgets often account for less than 1–1.5% of total budgets—there is still a need for increased investment in agriculture, including food production and infrastructure. He described agriculture as “an open-air factory” and stressed the importance of viewing budget allocations as investments for the future.
The Ministry has also sought to support farmers through favorable loans in cooperation with the Development Bank, using the Ministry as a guarantor. Joković noted that early-year disbursements from the Agrobudget were limited due to field inspections, with most payments occurring in the last three months of the year.
On addressing unfair competition, Joković highlighted that the key solution is the organization and cooperation of agricultural producers to increase production, strengthen branding, and ensure consistent availability of products in retail chains.
Regarding water supply challenges in Nikšić, the minister suggested exploring additional water sources, including potential use of nearby reservoirs such as Bilećko Lake, leveraging both local and state resources alongside European agricultural and climate resilience funds.
