STA, 20 October 2020 - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek, who is attending an EU ministerial in Luxembourg on Tuesday, said that little less problems in the Slovenian agriculture sector were expected than during the first Covid-19 wave in the spring, reiterating that food supply would not be disrupted or threatened.
The ministry said in a press release today that food supply in the second wave would be adequate and called on consumers not to stockpile food and other supplies, as it might happen that retailers would not be able to refill their shelves on time.
It added that excessive shopping created disturbances in the commerce systems, while adding that the declaration of epidemic and subsequent closure of certain segments related with food and purchase from local suppliers could create surpluses.
The sales of certain agricultural and food products in Slovenia could drop, so the ministry called on citizens to "buy local products as much as possible, like in the first wave of the epidemic."
According to the ministry, consumption of locally-produced fresh food ensures long-term independence of the sector, stability of Slovenia's countryside, jobs in agriculture and fisheries and better quality of life of each individual.
Minister Podgoršek meanwhile held a virtual press conference on the sidelines of the ministerial, saying that he and his EU counterparts had not discussed the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on agriculture yet.
The minister noted that the situation in the Slovenian agriculture sector was being closely monitored and that little less problems were expected than in the spring.
According to him, a "dead season" in agriculture is starting, and there will be less problems in terms of purchase of material and the need for workforce, as well as cultivation of land in border areas.
EU agriculture ministers are meanwhile trying to reach an agreement on the common agricultural policy for 2021-2027, with unofficial sources saying that the key open issues relate to defining eco schemes and exceptions for small framers.
Podgoršek said that the negotiations were expected to extend late into the night.
The ministers also discussed draft strategy for the transformation of the food supply system, with the Slovenian minister saying that Slovenia argued that the different starting points of countries should be taken into account with regard to reducing the use of pesticides, fertilisers and antibiotics.
Slovenia belongs to the EU member states which already apply the highest standards when it comes to animal welfare, and is among the countries which use the least antibiotics, so it would be very difficult to halve what is already a minimal quantity of antibiotics.
Podgoršek argued this already in June in the capacity of state secretary at the ministry, adding that the same was true for pesticides and fertilisers, and that Slovenia was already limited in this regards due to the small size of its market.
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