Over four million kilograms of tobacco have been handed over so far and the average purchase price is 143 denars. All 212 purchase points are open in the country and controls are being conducted on regular basis, Vice PM for Economic Affairs, Vladimir Pesevski, said Tuesday at Parliament's session.

According to him, Government's measures were fruitful.

"The Government will continue taking care of farmers. I believe that we are on the right path," pledged Pesevski.

A total of 365 million euros have been provided by the VMRO-DPMNE-led government for agriculture, contrary to 20 million provided by the previous government structure, run by SDSM. Actions and concrete steps instead of words and declarative pledges is the difference in VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM's approach toward the Macedonian agriculture, noted deputies from the ruling majority, who took the speaker's platform in the Parliament with signs revealing the sums of subsidies for agriculture provided by SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE.

Opposition MPs during the debate accused the government of adopting budgets without managing to solve the numerous issues.

The motion for the debate has been submitted by opposition MPs, whereas tobacco merchants and other farmers are waiting for the session outcome in front of the Parliament building.

Later in the day, an incident took place outside the Parliament when a group of tobacco producers made an attempt to break the police cordon in order to enter the Parliament. Police security has been heightened since the incident.

Some protesters threw bottles and other objects at police officers guarding the Parliament. One photo-reporter has been injured in the scuffle.

In the meantime, representatives of the Alliance of Associations of Farmers organised a protest outside SDSM headquarters.

"We came here to urge the opposition to quit pressuring farmers and to leave them alone to hand over the tobacco and to be adequately awarded," they said.