HSS representative Krešo Beljak on Monday, during the discussion on the final proposal of the law on family farms (OPG), asked government representatives whether they had considered expanding the list of activities that OPGs can engage in, specifically to legalize marijuana cultivation.
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“Have you considered that, even though it is a public secret that everyone or a large majority does it illegally, to legalize marijuana cultivation in OPGs in order to prevent the black market that is ‘rampant’ in Croatia?” Beljak asked during the discussion, where part of the opposition expressed numerous objections to the new law, which a government representative assures will provide a “quality foundation” for sustainable development and better business operations of OPGs.
“Apathetic atmosphere”
The proposed law defines OPG as a strategically important organizational form of agricultural economy, important for achieving sustainable development, principles of general food safety, preservation of natural resources, and increasing competitiveness, says government representative Tugomir Majdak.
Beljak clarified that he is talking about cultivation for personal needs, primarily about the medical use of marijuana, and added that “it should also be considered to allow use in order to relax this incredibly apathetic atmosphere” that the ruling party has created.
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Most representatives express numerous objections to the law, claiming it increases administration, and discriminates against Croatian citizens compared to foreigners. “Our citizen at the residence cannot register an OPG, a foreigner can, meaning he does not have to have residency and that is discrimination,” says Tomislav Panenić and asks why an adult member of an OPG must be legally capable.
“Imagine how many people went on disability retirement after the war and for whom all general work incapacity applies,” warned Božo Petrov, while Miro Bulj called out the Minister of Agriculture for not attending the discussion, claiming it is because “he works in the interest of foreigners, not domestic family farms and our farmers.”
The law will not fix the catastrophic state in agriculture
Branimir Bunjac (ŽZ) says that the law is not entirely bad, that it has some good solutions, such as protecting OPGs from foreclosures, but that the state of agriculture is catastrophic and it is hard to expect that the law will fix it. The Living Wall will seek to protect the property that serves the OPG for carrying out its primary activity from foreclosure. It is illogical that the owner of a cow has protected food for it, but not the barn where it will stay, the representative vividly described his amendment.
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“We need the law, it must be clear what an OPG is, but conditions must be created for them to engage in food production,” said Davor Vlaović (HSS), who draws attention to the large number of blocked OPGs and asks what will be done to help them.
The opposition IDS praises the law, satisfied that the government listened to some of its suggestions. IDS warned that many OPGs were established by family-related persons who lived in the same household, but who, for example, due to marriage, moved to another address and are no longer members of the same household, but still work on the OPG. “We are glad that our suggestion has been accepted, allowing those persons to arrange their status,” said Giovanni Sponza.
The number of new OPGs is increasing
The goal of the law is to provide appropriate motivation for one family to manage one OPG, to discourage the fragmentation of production resources, emphasizes Josip Križanić (HDZ), pleased that family members will be able to help with seasonal work without establishing an employment relationship.
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The proposed law defines OPG as a strategically important organizational form of agricultural economy, important for achieving sustainable development, principles of general food safety, preservation of natural resources, and increasing competitiveness, says government representative Tugomir Majdak, noting that OPGs are the organizational form in which 97 percent of all farmers operate. He emphasizes that in the last six months, the number of new OPGs has increased by over 10,000, and that the most OPGs, over 41,000, were shut down from the end of 2013 to the end of 2015.
