BFC. Agriculture Finance Bulletin.
14) USAID online panel informs of key agricultural issues amid COVID-19 pandemic April 14th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/04/14/proizvodjaci-voca-i-povrca-na-gubitku-nuzno-povecanje-plasmana/
The Competitive Economy Project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) held a third online panel as part of its World Wants Home initiative. The panel, which featured discussions on obstacles and opportunities for fruit and vegetable producers in times of crisis, informed food producers about key issues and ways to better manage their business during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the panel discussed how it was important for production works to continue and for new market outlets, especially domestic ones, to be found and taken advantage of until normalcy resumes.
15) FAO, EBRD to help Serbian food producers meet new hygiene bylaws April 12th, 2020, https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2020/04/serbian-food-producers-get-help-to-meet-new-hygiene-rules/
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are preparing guidelines and promotional materials to help producers comply with new hygiene bylaws on food products of plant origin that were recently passed by the Serbian government. Under this new legislation, producers can continue following traditional methods for making and selling products such as fruits, vegetables and fresh herbs, as long as they are safe. There is some flexibility in the new rules in that some requirements are not compulsory for smallscale operators or can be adapted to their conditions. This will help preserve the diversity of Serbian products without sacrificing food safety and hygiene. The new bylaws were adopted to help bring Serbian legislation in line with European standards as Serbia works toward full membership in the European Union (EU).
Private Sector 16) Drought conditions threaten corn, soybean and sunflower harvests April 21st, 2020, http://rs.n1info.com/Biznis/a591473/Susa-ugrozava-nicanje
Droughts throughout Serbia are threatening corn, soybean and sunflower harvests this year as soil in sown areas is not demonstrating the necessary moisture levels for such crops to sprout and grow. A similar situation occurred last year during the sowing period, although later rains eventually saved spring crops. To counter the current drought conditions, experts are recommending that producers feed crops until the first rains comes and that corn producers who have yet to plant corn seeds plant them more deeply, where soil moisture levels and more acceptable.
17) GDP predicted to decline 3% this year April 17th, 2020, https://www.danas.rs/ekonomija/poljoprivreda-i-prehrambena-industrija-cuvaju-pad-bdp-a-u-srbiji/
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is predicting that Serbia’s GDP will decline by 3.0% this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main reason for this decline is that the share of agriculture and food industry producers in Serbia’s economy is 7.5%. This is much higher than the average in Central and Eastern Europe (3.5%) and Western Europe (2.0%). Despite the predicted fall in GDP this year, the IMF is predicting growth of 7.1% next year. Such optimistic forecasts for the future are likely to help increase investments and large-scale (i.e. on a government level) borrowing and reduce the long-term negative impact of the pandemic. Page 5
