In order to motivate young people to stay in the countryside, the authorities in Bijeljina decided to support young married couples in buying houses in the countryside. The announcement of the public invitation is expected by the end of this month, when the first houses will be purchased.
The city of Bijeljina is the first in Bosnia and Herzegovina to introduce a subsidy for the purchase of abandoned country houses for young married couples. This year, 100,000 BAM will be allocated from the city budget for these purposes.
For 32-year-old Dragan Kojić, this is good news. Although he has already solved the housing issue, he is happy about this measure, because it will mean more young people in the countryside and in the fields.
“For someone who has the desire to live in the countryside and engage in agriculture, this help from the department will mean a lot to stimulate him and to see that someone thinks about him. The fact that he will get a house is just a wind at his back,” Kojic says.
The public call will be announced from mid-April, say the authorities, and add that the largest individual subsidy will amount to 20,000 BAM.
Sreten Vuckovic, head of the Department of Agriculture in Bijeljina: “The conditions are really not rigorous, all young married couples under the age of 40 must reside in the area of the City of Bijeljina and have no immobility on itself. The city of Bijeljina will co-finance the purchase of houses in the rural area in the amount of up to 50% of the total price of the real estate.”
Providing a roof over one’s head is only one of the links to stop the population leaving, according to demographers.
“The first and most important thing is a safe, stable, well-paid job. That mothers, women who need to work, and on the other hand, that families are realized in their careers. Then to do a set of measures, all of them coordinated with each other, a time set of measures can give an effect of up to 10%,” Stevo Pasalic, demographer, says.
On the other hand, young farmers point out that, in addition to a safe home, it is important to provide continuous support to young people in the countryside.
“They could allocate a little more for us under 30. I also have a son and I will advise him to stay in the countryside, but I have to provide him with a story, as our father provided for us. It would be good if they allocated us who are really, really younger than the others, Miodrag Lazic, the farmer, adds.
The public invitation for young married couples will not be time-limited, the authorities announce. The activity will last until the planned funds are spent, and additional allocations are possible if there is interest.
