BFC. Agriculture Finance Bulletin.
Private Sector 13) Meeting held to discuss lifting Russian restrictions on Serbian pork February 19th, 2020, http://www.agronews.rs/rusija-ukida-ogranicenja-na-uvoz-svinjetine-iz-srbije/
Ministry of Agriculture Bogdan Igic has met with the head of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance to discuss lifting the restrictions Russia placed on Serbian pork imports in August of last year. The restrictions were placed last year due to concerns over African swine flu. Both sides agreed that the Minister would send the Russian Embassy in Belgrade Serbia’s map of infected areas, demonstrating that the disease is not present in meat producing regions. Following this, another meeting will be set up to determine a possible path forward. At the meeting, the two sides also discussed increasing imports of Russian agricultural products into Serbia, especially cereals, meat, fish and dairy products.
14) Agricultural export markets need to expand February 18th, 2020, http://www.stips.minpolj.gov.rs/srl/vest/usporavanje-izvoza-poljoprivrednih-proizvoda
According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, the total gross value of Serbian agricultural production in 2018 was USD 5.5 billion, a 16% year-on-year increase. Most of this increase was due to increased cereal, industrial plant and fruit production, with slight decreases to vegetable and livestock production. This, however, has not translated into increased agricultural export performance as higher amounts of cereals do not necessarily bring better profits, especially when sales prices fall significantly. In fact, if the structure of exports does not change, chances are good that foreign trade results of Serbian agriculture will get worse year after year. To ensure sustained (and even increased) results, Serbia must expand into new markets outside of its traditional markets in the European Union, CEFTA countries and Russia. Only then will it be able to command the best prices for production.
15) Cattle, pig numbers up; sheep, goat, poultry numbers down February 16th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/02/16/raste-broj-goveda-i-svinja-a-opada-ovaca-koza-i-zivine/
According to data published by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, the total number of cattle and pigs in the country increased (by 2.3% and 4.0% respectively) from the period of December 1, 2018 through December 1, 2019. 46.2% of all cattle in the country are found in the region of Sumadija and in Western Serbia. 42.4% of all pigs in the country are found in the region of Vojvodina. During the same period, the total number of sheep, goats and poultry decreased, by 4.1%, 2.4% and 2.8% respectively.
16) Berry producers ask state to mediate dispute with processors February 14th, 2020, http://rs.n1info.com/Biznis/a569404/Proizvodjaci-malina-i-kupina-traze
The Association of Raspberry and Blackberry Producers of Serbia is asking the state to mediate a dispute between producers and purchasers regarding purchase prices as soon as possible so that market conditions are known to all before the processing season begins. The dispute stems from producers seeing their profits fall while also observing the price of processed products rise. This is especially important for producers as weather events damaged as much as 30% of their harvest, meaning that prices should rise under normal market conditions.
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