Part of the Federal Councils of Kresimiria.
The Council for Growth and Agriculture (Kresi: Savjet za Rast i Poljoprivredu) is the federal executive department responsible for the management of the nation’s natural resources, food security, land use, and the administration of electoral demographics.
Headed by the Councillor for Growth, the body wields immense influence over the rural economy. It oversees the National Grain Trust (NGT), managing the strategic food reserves that stabilize prices in NaroMart. However, its most politically sensitive function is the decennial review of district borders, a power that has frequently drawn accusations of gerrymandering to favor the Blue Dawn establishment.
Mandate and Powers
The Council’s authority is derived from two distinct areas of the Constitution:
- Resource Management (Article 43): Declares all natural resources the “patrimony of the nation.” This gives the Council the power to issue mining permits to companies like SeverMin and agricultural quotas to Maj Holdings.
- Demographic Administration: The Council conducts the National Census every ten years. Based on this data, it is empowered to redraw the internal boundaries of the ten Federal Districts to ensure they contain “roughly equal populations,” a vague mandate that allows for significant interpretation.
History
The Reconstruction (1921–1950)
In the early Republic, the Council was primarily a logistics agency. Following the starvation caused by the Unification War, its sole focus was revitalizing the farmlands of Ravna Skrad. It implemented the “Golden Wheat” initiatives that turned the district into the breadbasket of the nation.
The Sanjakorin Expansion (1980s)
Under Ljubo Sanjakorin, the Council was transformed into a powerhouse of the statist economy. Following the 1988 State Enterprise Act, the Council absorbed the newly created National Grain Trust. This consolidation gave the Councillor for Growth the ability to set food prices nationwide, effectively controlling the cost of living for the working class.
The Modern Era
In the 21st century, the Council has clashed repeatedly with environmentalists.
- Northern Conflict: The Council continues to issue strip-mining permits in Severnivaraje, prioritizing resource extraction over environmental protection. This has made it the primary institutional enemy of Syv Iric and Northern Power.
- Agro-Business: Under the current Councillor Davorin Pivac (an ally of Ari Stov), the Council has favored large-scale industrial farming, often pushing smallholders in Pologradska to sell their land to state-aligned conglomerates.
Controversies
Gerrymandering Accusations
The Council is frequently accused of manipulating district borders to dilute the opposition vote.
- The “Sinj Split”: In 2010, the Council redrew the boundaries of District I, absorbing several conservative suburbs into the metropolitan district. The CRF claimed this was done to counteract the rising liberal vote in the city center.
- The “Bosken Cage”: The Council has steadfastly refused to alter the borders of District X, despite population shifts. Critics argue this is to contain the BLF vote within a single district, preventing Bosken influence from spilling over into neighboring District V.
The NGT-Maj Rivalry
The Council manages the delicate balance between the state-run NGT and the private giant Maj Holdings. While nominally competitors, investigations by Northfocus have revealed “price-fixing summits” where Council officials meet with Bran Maj to ensure that state price caps do not completely destroy private profit margins.