Sage, immortelle and lavender in Herzegovina: Republika Srpska support for growing

This article explains state support for growing medicinal and aromatic plants (sage, immortelle, lavender) in Republika Srpska. It concerns farms and businesses in East Herzegovina that plan a plantation or already sell dried herbs.

In short

• The premium for buckwheat, aromatic and medicinal plants (Article 33 of the 2026 Rulebook) covers, among others, lavender, sage (žalfija) and immortelle (smilje), but not herbal teas.
• Condition: at least 0.5 ha sown in the current year, entered in the Register of Agricultural Holdings (RPG) as land use, and the harvest sold.
• Amount: up to 30% of the reference price per unit of product, at most 25,000 KM per beneficiary per year. The exact per-kilogram amount is set by the Agency in a decision after applications are processed.
• Apply by 30 November of the current year. For 2026 that deadline is still open.
• The premium is tied to sown area and sales, so wild collection is not supported by it.

Who it applies to

Natural persons and legal entities resident or based in Republika Srpska and entered in the RPG as commercial or non-commercial holdings (or in the Register of Incentive Beneficiaries).

What to do

1. Check that the holding is in the RPG and that the parcel is declared as medicinal or aromatic plants.
2. Sow or plant at least 0.5 ha. The list in Article 33(2) is closed: lavender, sage, immortelle, chamomile, calendula, thyme, rosemary, mint, lemon balm, nettle, rosehip, heather, basil, bay laurel, dandelion, savory, echinacea, clary sage and a few others. Plants not on the list do not qualify, so check the exact list in the Rulebook.
3. Sell the harvest and keep proof: business entities need a retail fiscal receipt and a signed, certified invoice, or wholesale invoices; natural persons need a purchase block (otkupni blok) and a goods-analytical card. A grower who is also a processor must show the product was handed to processing.
4. Fill in Form 25 (premium calculation, available on the Agency's website) and submit it to the Agency with the proof. Legal entities submit it on paper and in electronic form (by e-mail or on a CD).
5. Note that the Agency compares declared quantities with the area in the RPG and a maximum acceptable yield per hectare. For lavender, sage and immortelle this is 6,000, 6,000 and 8,000 kg/ha. Quantities above that are reduced.

Other measures that may apply

• Organic production: premium up to 600 KM/ha for arable and up to 700 KM/ha for vegetable and fruit crops, maximum 40,000 KM per beneficiary, with a record and certificate from an authorised control body. Apply by 30 November. Separate rates for protected space and minimum areas exist, and which group medicinal plants fall into you should ask the Agency. A certified processed organic product also earns 400 KM (one product) or 1,000 KM (two or more); apply by 31 October, which is still open for 2026.
• Medicinal plant seedlings (Article 40): up to 100,000 KM per beneficiary, but only for legal entities and entrepreneurs entered in the Phytoregister, for seedlings they produced, declared and sold. It does not cover growers planting for their own use. The 2026 deadline (30 June) has passed, so check the new Rulebook for next year.
• Processing: an amendment to the Rulebook (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske no. 27/26, in force since 8 April 2026) replaced Specification No. 5. The new specification applies only to the technological innovation measure and covers climate change adaptation, smart technologies and digitalisation. Dryers, cutting machines and distillation equipment are no longer listed. Ask the Agency whether equipment for processing herbs can be funded under another measure.

Wild collection

The Article 33 premium requires sown area, so wild-collected plants are not supported by it. Ask the competent authority about permits and protected species before collecting for sale. We have not given buying prices or buyer requirements here because we could not confirm them in an official source.

Deadlines and amounts

• Medicinal and aromatic plant premium: apply by 30 November of the current year, maximum 25,000 KM per beneficiary.
• The Agency decides by decision within 60 days after the application deadline.
• This describes the Rulebook version published on 27 February 2026, with the amendment in Službeni glasnik no. 27/26. The Rulebook was amended again (nos. 52/26, 65/26 and 80/26), so before you apply, check with the Agency whether those amendments affect this premium.

Where to go

• Agencija za agrarna plaćanja (Agency for Agrarian Payments), Trg Republike Srpske 1, 78000 Banja Luka, telephone 051/338-549, e-mail aaprs@mps.vladars.rs. We did not confirm a separate office for East Herzegovina. General information: page of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.

Laws and sources

• Pravilnik o uslovima i načinu ostvarivanja novčanih podsticaja za razvoj poljoprivrede i sela za 2026. godinu (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske nos. 16/26, 27/26, 52/26, 65/26 and 80/26), original text no. 16/26, Articles 33, 35, 37, 40 and Specification No. 1
• Pravilnik o izmjenama Pravilnika (amending rulebook, Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske no. 27/26), new Specifications No. 4 and 5