The government will intervene with a certain amount of fodder from state reserves in an attempt to make up for the shortage causing troubles to farmers, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ljupco Dimovski stated on Thursday after a meeting with representatives of the farmers' associations.

As a result of the drought, agricultural output has been reduced by 15 to 20 percent compared to last year.

The quantity of fodder reserves is yet to be determined. "We understand the needs of farmers because we truly want to help", Dimovski stated.

A solution must be found and it has to be long-term, according to him. An intervention through state reserves should not become a practice. Possibly, areas will be defined solely for the production of fodder while awarding state agricultural land.

Farmers have welcomed the government's efforts to improve the situation in cattle breeding, urging the added value tax of animal feed to be lowered.

Macedonia is not a major producer of animal feed. Its needs are covered by a production of 35%, while the rest is imported.