Organic Farming in Montenegro: Country Report
by Jovo Radulovic
History of organic agriculture in Montenegro and key organisations
- Logo of the NGO 'Production of Organic Food'
- Logo of the magazine Ecofood
- Logo of the certification body Monteorganica
- Logo of the first organic shop in Montenegro 'Montenegro Bio'
The development of organic agriculture is still in its infancy.
- Since 2002, the NGO '
Production of Organic Food' has been involved in the development of organic agriculture, nature conversation and the promotion of rural areas in Montenegro as tourist attractions. - In 2002, the first organic experimental field was set up on the Lukavica mountain in Župa Nikšişk.
- Since December 2002, the NGO Production of Organic Food has published the monthly magazine for organic food EcoFood. It covers organic agriculture and the subject of sustainable development in Montenegro.
- In 2004, some members of this organization were certified by the Swiss certifier Bio Suisse.
- In 2004, the Ministry of Agriculture adopted the Law on Organic Agriculture.
- In 2006, the National Agency for Certification and Control of Organic Produce Monteorganica issued the first certificates.
- In 2008, the NGO 'Production of Organic Food' established the first organic shop - Biomontenegro-, in order to develop and promote organic agriculture. It serves as purchase center for organic products produced in Montenegro.
Statistical overview
In 2008 there were 26 organic producers in Montenegro, twice as many as in 2007. Cropland (arable and permanent crops) amounted to ca. 75 hectares, and there were an additional 1800 hectares of grassland. Montenegro has more than 100'000 hectares of wild collection areas.
The organic law
- Organic logo for Montenegro
The Ministry adopted the Law on Organic Agriculture in the middle of 2004 (Law Nr. 01-1006/2). This law provides a legal framework for the development of organic agriculture in Montenegro according to EU Regulation 2092/91 (now 834/2007).
In line with the law, several sub-acts, regulating different aspects of organic agriculture were also developed, including requirements among others on:
- Organic plant production and the collection of forest fruit and medicinal herbs;
- Organic livestock production;
- Processing, transport and storing of organic agriculture products;
- Conditions that need to be met by persons that control organic agriculture;
- Use of the organic logo.
A revision of the organic law is currently under preparation.
Certification
- Logo of the certification body Monteorganica
During 2006, the National Agency for Certification and Control of Organic Produce Monteorganica, founded by the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management MoAFWM in 2005, issued its first organic certificate in Montenegro.
Government support
The development of organic agriculture is one of the main objectives of the Montenegrin agricultural policy. So far, most of the activities have been geared at the establishment of an organic legislation and an institutional framework.
In 2009, the government plans to spent 165'000 Euros for direct payments, for financing the work of the certification body Monteorganica as well as other support measures. As to direct payments 120 Euros per hectare are forseen for arable crops and 220 Euros for vegetables and fruit. Furthermore 40 Euros are for seen per head of cattle, 2 Euro for Poultry, 20 Euros for beehives.
At the local level, some of the first initiatives regarding organic agriculture have been supported by the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management MoAFWM - in the regions of Nikšiş, Kolašin, and Moraća. The activities in these regions have led to formation of three growers associations who expressed a strong interest to practice organic agriculture -“Proizvodnja zdrave hrane” in Nikšiş municipality, “Ozirska dolina” in the municipality of Kolašin, and “Moraća” in the Podgorica community.
The market
Today there are two companies that are involved in the marketing and processing of organic products:
- Biomontenegro, a specialised shop from Podgorica and
- INSPE, which collects and processes medical plants, from the municipality of Bar municipality work in organic sector in Montenegro.
In 2008, the total turnover with organic products was estimated to be 55'000 Euros. Currently no organic products are exported.
Challenges
The main challenge for the further development of organic farming in Montenegro is the lack of institutional infrastructure for the promotion and faster development of organic agriculture.
The undeveloped market, the small range of organic products, and the underdeveloped processing infrastructure are further factors hindering the development of organic agriculture in the country.
Background: Agriculture in Montenegro
The Republic of Montenegro, as a new constituted country in Europe is facing a number of institutional and development challenges crucial for its future economic development. Its economic development still relies substantially on agriculture, contributing to the gross domestic product contribution with 11.3 percent in 2004. The fact that nearly 30 percent of the Montenegrin population (more than 60'000 households) rely fully or partly on agriculture as a main source of income indicates also its importance in the context of rural poverty alleviation.
The share of agricultural land in total area is 38 percent (518'067 hectares), representing an important economic source of production. Nearly 65 percent of the agricultural land is in private ownership, with the average farm size of above five hectares. In terms of the land structure, only 12 percent of the land belongs to arable land (used mostly for maize, wheat and potatoes), orchards and vineyards, where as the largest share, of 88 percent belong to pastures and natural meadows, inadequately used.
The political and economic changes in Montenegro accompanying the transition process, according to statistical data did not result in a fall in production, which was a characteristic of several other countries going through transition process, but exhibited a positive growth. However, the government considers that production potential is unexploited. In effect, subsistence production and production for direct sales on green markets prevails. Commercial market production, except forwine (also the most important export product) and partly dairy sector is at the very beginning. In crop production, apart from wine, vegetable production, due to tradition and favourable conditions, and to some extent potato production is also significant. The production of cereals is negligible. A significant part of the Montenegrin agricultural production value is generated from livestock production (cattle, sheep and goats), within which the most significant products are milk and meat. Some of the non-arable land is used for citrus and olives trees, which also have a major contribution to the GDP. The use of artificial fertilizers and chemical means is very low, with its expected further decline as a result of the economic crises in the past 15 years, which contributes to land and water preservation.
Prevailing existence of extensive agriculture, encompassed with the low utilization of artificial fertilizers and chemicals gives a good basis for a development of organic agriculture, in particular in the context of diary sector. Development of the organic sector is therefore from the government perspective considered as an important contributing factor to overall economic development and rural poverty alleviation.
