Two-thirds of state agricultural land is still not in use

Of the available 544,820 hectares of state agricultural land, two-thirds, or 356,937 hectares, is not in use, emphasized State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Josip Kraljičković at today’s meeting with representatives of counties.

Kraljičković stated that this is an alarming figure, noting that in nine years, 220 local government units have not significantly engaged in activities related to the management of state agricultural land. In Croatia, there are 545 local government units, of which 472 manage agricultural land; 105 have not created a program for the management of agricultural land, and 120 that have a program have not announced tenders for the management of agricultural land.

If by May 15 of this year the counties do not submit a report to the Ministry of Agriculture on the activities undertaken regarding the management of state-owned agricultural land, the Ministry will conduct administrative oversight in the local government units that have not taken the necessary actions for better management of state agricultural land, it was stated.

Kraljičković reiterated that the goal of the agricultural land law is better land management, that is, to put as much land as possible into use. The land must be maintained capable of agricultural production, and local government units are responsible for implementing these activities, he said. He also highlighted that the Agency for Agricultural Land should be operational by July 1. For those local government units that do not create programs for the management of state agricultural land by August 15, the Agency will do so and then charge them for this service.

Kraljičković also stated that the state will forgo its share of revenue from the lease of agricultural land for 2010, which amounts to 25 percent of the total amount per hectare of state agricultural land paid by farmers. Discussions are also underway to reduce the starting price for long-term leases by 30 percent for 2010, 2011, and 2012, as well as regarding the maximum amount of state land that an individual will be able to purchase. (H)