Last Friday, the Croatian Parliament voted on amendments to the Agricultural Land Act. The Ministry of Agriculture believes that the criteria for leasing land have been improved and that the tendering processes will be expedited. Farmers who utilize this land are not so sure about that.
On that very Friday, I was with a group of journalists in Lika, where we were guests of Natura Beef, owned by Mladen Kušeković. Regardless of the many stories that could be told about his farm in Udbina, which have been shared on the Lider website, in this column I would like to focus a bit more on Zdeno Ramljak, the owner of a family farm near Korenica. Kušeković himself took us to the Ramljak family, which he says is an example that even small livestock farmers can operate successfully.
Our hosts, the Ramljaks and Kušeković, long-time livestock farmers, believe that the scoring system for land allocation is still unclear, meaning that the current tenant is not sure whether they will receive a ‘new mandate’ when their lease expires. I read what the law states about the scoring system and must admit that I am not sure who is right here, the state or our hosts.
They Want to Invest, but Cannot
Perhaps the example of the Ramljak family can clarify my doubts, as they are somewhat concerned whether in August, when Zdeno’s lease for part of the state agricultural land expires, they will have an advantage over potential competitors for a new lease. This is a family of three generations of working-age people; Zdeno and his wife are the third generation, and the fourth consists of small children. They moved there long ago when no one wanted to come to those rural areas of neglected pastures. They built a beautiful house and decided to settle there permanently. They are originally from Bosnia, from Vitez. From their speech and what they told us, it is evident how much they care about their work in Lika. They have a thousand sheep, invested a large amount of money in organic farming, so a few more dozen hectares of land would be beneficial for them. But if they keep this, it will be good.
Grandfather Josip Ramljak, whom we encountered while walking to the sheep, speaks emotionally about the possible loss of land, even though they are long-time tenants, which is the first criterion they meet (they will receive thirty points for that; including other criteria, it is possible to score a total of one hundred points). However, they are not, for example, dairy farmers, for which they would also receive thirty points.
I was watching him as he spoke about this. The tone of his voice and his frown indicate that he would perceive the loss of land as a great injustice. His grandson Zdeno appears to be calmer, at least that is the impression I got, while explaining that it took this family a long time to acquire everything they have and that they would like to continue investing in livestock farming, but they do not dare because they do not know how much land they will have at their disposal.
Objectively Subjective
Of course, at least according to what I saw in the latest legal amendments, Zdeno and his family can count on some additional points in the competition for obtaining a land lease, and they will even have an advantage if they have the same number of points as competitors because the criterion of the current tenant is the strongest. But other criteria should have been introduced. For example, our interlocutors told us, the problem may not be that someone who wants to engage professionally in agriculture, like the Ramljak family, applies for the tender.
The problem is that those who, alongside their job, most often in public service, establish a family farm, receive land, and ultimately produce nothing, but receive good subsidies. In my opinion, such individuals should only receive land if no one else wants it. Furthermore, our interlocutors believe that only those who pay taxes should receive subsidies and land. Perhaps this is a shortcoming of these amendments, if I understood our interlocutors correctly, who welcomed us nicely and showed that there are beautiful examples of farmers in our country who want to invest.
Although I should not take the side of the Ramljaks during the upcoming tender because I must strive to be objective, I admit that I believe it would be a shame for this family, which has invested so much and wants to live in Lika, to be left without a piece of land. But may the best win.
POST SCRIPTUM
Another interesting fact related to the Ramljak family: one of the largest buyers of their lamb is a butcher in Zadar, and for all the lamb they sell to customers, they issue an invoice. They keep accurate records, and all the sheep they have are registered in the system. They pay all taxes to the state, they say, and they would invest in livestock farming even without subsidies; they started this business without them. They believe that subsidies are welcome but not crucial for the decision to engage in livestock farming if someone truly wants to live from it. I believe such individuals are in the minority in Croatia.
