I think we can agree on the question that agriculture and rural development should occupy one of the high places in the Spatial Plan of Montenegro in the long term. If the fact that the agricultural area in Montenegro is the largest natural resource of the state is added to the previous one, then no additional comment is needed on this issue.
And now, when we descend to mother earth (and the earth is the mother of everything that lives and walks on the earth - everything from the earth to everything in the earth), huge problems arise there. Namely, planners know this well - a good spatial plan of a country must be preceded by credible studies (projects) for individual development areas, so that the spatial plan reflects people's life needs and sustainable development.
Montenegrin agriculture and rural development have always lacked exactly those studies (projects) at least in three neuralgic sectors of development: (a) agricultural (European) legislation; (B) serious socioeconomic research and data on the demographic structure of the Montenegrin agrarian area, because it is known that the agrarian area of Montenegro is like a "tiger's skin" (problematic creation - populated and devoid of life and economy), and finally (C) land policy (European model and practice), without which there is no progress in any sector of agricultural and rural development, not even in terms of planning the country's spatial development.
Based on the highlighted facts and, as far as I know, the lack of research (studies) of the problems in question, state planners are faced with almost an impossible mission in the preparation of a spatial plan in the economic branch in question. If this harsh fact is added to the problem that in the previous period the functions of planning and the need for strong agricultural institutions in Montenegro were lost (without which there is no responsibility for what has been done or not done in this area of the economy), then the circle closes from which the the new agrarian government will have to think carefully about how to get out?
Unfortunately, the problem of agricultural production in Montenegro does not end here? Namely, it would be correct if individuals from our country they do not offend common sense claiming that Montenegro has an agricultural and rural (green) strategy, based on the principles of science and profession and advanced decades of European practice.
No matter how much someone likes it or not, it should be remembered that in the previous socialist self-governing system, Montenegro had good Law on Agriculture and Land Policy which resulted in a regulated land territory (land as a natural substrate, transformed into land ready for high food production) of 7 hectares, the wealth of which was released by law from 000 down the murky Marica.
At that time, it was completely clear what should be done on 1500 hectares in the Bjelopavlić plain, on 900 hectares in Lješkopolje, on 400 hectares in Crmničko polje, on 500 hectares of land in Ulcinj, on 300 hectares of land in Mrčevo polje, on 70 hectares in Tivatsko field, on 40 hectares in Sutorinsko field and others. Now no one knows what should be done about these legacies that were irretrievably sunk during the transition period?
At that "damned" time, there was a project to activate 12 hectares in the coastal zone of Lake Skadar and exploit peat in that area. there was a project to turn the inhabited area of Zeta into a Euro reserve (which Zeta was) of early food production. In this context, the project was made regulation of Drima and Bojana, which was supposed to lower the level of the lake at an elevation of 6.00, thus freeing a large land resource in Montenegro and Albania from periodic flooding, etc. These were capital projects for the economic development of Montenegro, which were later avoided for understandable and incomprehensible reasons.
But now those projects are a thing pass! And, what should be done on this plan, and with new ideas, no one knows, nor does he declare. Total blockage of scientific and professional thought?!
We should gather our strength and sit down at the table, even if the highlighted problems are discussed, so what will we get from the conversation?!
The author is a specialist in agricultural and rural development
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