ZAGREB, 30 March 2022 - Lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed a ban on the use of pesticides that are hazardous to bees during spring blossoming to avoid a repeat of the situation of June 2020 when millions of bees in Međimurje died.

"It turned out that that resulted partially due to the incorrect use of pesticides", state secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Tugomir Majdak said during a debate in the Sabor on a bill on the sustainable use of pesticides. 

He added that beekeepers were compensated for the loss without noting the amount involved.

Majdak explained that anyone using products for protection during agricultural activities has to report what they are using to the Croatian Beekeepers Association or its local representatives.

Lawmakers pointed out that some pesticides were fake, while others warned of the problem of imported fruit and vegetables treated with banned pesticides.

Majdak: Croatia has more than 100,000 hectares with organically-grown products

Majdak explained that in Croatia more than 100,000 hectares, or 10% of total land registered in the Arcod System, is planted with organically-grown products and the aim is to increase that even further.

He added that Croatia is in the process of adopting an action plan for organically-grown products and that the use of sustainable pesticides and organic production is "our practice."

In light of the concern expressed by MPs given the negative effects of Russia's aggression on Ukraine and its impact on the food market as well as the drought, which could cause the need for additional pesticides to be used, Majdak said that the situation with crops is good and that a certain quantity of precipitation is expected, so there is no need for any additional effort regarding the protection of plants.

He confirmed that aerial spraying is banned while online sales of pesticides are not currently regulated by law.

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October 15, 2020 – To become a leading green county in Croatia, Zagreb County has devised strategic goals that include organic farming in all agricultural areas, organically grown food in public institutions, and eco-menus for all restaurants and rural tourism facilities.

As Lokalni.hr reports, Zagreb County leaders believe they have all conditions needed for achieving these goals. The goals are set in the action plan of the Program for the Development of Organic Agriculture in Zagreb County until 2030, which was presented last week.

With it, Zagreb County wants to become the leading green county, which bases its development on ecological and innovative food production, but also the development of smart villages.

An example to other counties

To achieve these goals, the development of organic food cultivation is prioritized, as well as the improvement of socio-economic conditions of villages and farmers, and the improvement of the population's environment and health.

"We want to enable producers to focus on organic production and provide our residents with healthy and quality food. I am sure that this plan can be an example to other counties of how to approach the development of organic agriculture in the Republic of Croatia," said Prefect Stjepan Kožić at the program presentation.

Head of Agriculture Josip Kraljičković said that this is the ‘bravest program’ of the Zagreb County in agriculture so far, and the program was presented by its authors Sonja Karoglan Todorović and Darko Znaor from the company Agro Eko.

Modern agriculture

"People have the perception that organic farming is a return to the 'old way', that it is our grandparents' agriculture. But they need to be reassured. Organic farming is modern agriculture, in which one does not dig with a hoe, but uses advanced, innovative technology. Today, organic agriculture is among the most innovative branches of agriculture," said Karoglan Todorović, adding that the program is in line with EU policies so that 25 percent of the area is under organic farming.

"This action plan is brave. For Croatia to have 25 percent of organic agriculture in the foreseeable future, someone has to pull more. And with this program, the Zagreb County has once again shown that it has a vision," added Karoglan Todorović.

On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Assistant Minister Krunoslav Karalić attended the program presentation.

"Organic farming accounts for 7.2 percent of our agricultural production and is handled by 5,500 farms," ​ the Assistant Minister pointed out.

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April 25, 2020 — Croatia's farming sector turned into a circular firing squad on Saturday after a leader in the Chamber of Agriculture claimed the nation's farmers owed the EU eye-watering sums of misused funds. The Agricultural Ministry later denied all allegations, while admitting some "irregularities" existed in EU-back funding for organic farming which were quickly weeded out.

The accusations by Chamber of Agriculture Vice President Antun Vrankić first appeared in a Vecernji List article about the dilapidated state of Eastern Croatia's farming industry.

"A Brussels control found that only two percent of the incentives paid for organic farming was justified, and as much as 98 percent were false," Vrankić said, a claim which sent shockwaves through the industry. The HRK 3 billion tally had not appeared in public. "And now they are demanding that the money be returned, three years back. We're talking about a billion kunas per year."

He added farmers were being asked to disperse the cost equally as an act of solidarity.

Agriculture Minister Marija Vucković called the accusations "untested and completely inaccurate" in a lengthy statement pushing back against Vrankić's claims. 

Croatia set aside nearly EUR 130 million in funds allocated for organic farming between 2014 and 2020, 15 percent of which came from government coffers. The boom in organic products — namely nuts — left the fund depleted. The Ministry requested larger sum in the next round of funds, which are still in negotiation and uncertain because of the coronavirus outbreak.

"Unfortunately, irregularities in the use of aid are present," the ministry admitted in its statement. "However, through regular field checks and inspections, such cases are identified and sanctioned in accordance with the scale of the irregularity identified, which has significantly reduced the number of irregularities over time."

Vrakić's claims came at a time of growing uncertainty of food supplies and Croatia's self-sufficiency should the coronavirus have a prolonged stay in Europe. His point, originally, was to show the inaccuracy of the agricultural sector's own production and capacity figures.

Vrakić said food production within Croatia fell below 40 percent, though governmental bodies wouldn't provide figures to back his claim. The EU funds, he added, add to the misconceptions about Croatia's ability to feed itself.

"Incentives are being raised to desolate fields where no one produces anything," he said.

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Sustainable farming expert Darko Znaor talks about the connection between organic food production and tourism.