Foreign Aid

10) Serbia becomes full member of the International Cereal Council

April 1st, 2020, https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Biznis-i-ekonomija/238688

The Ministry of Agriculture announced today that Serbia has become a full member of the International Grains Council (IGC), an organization that brings together the world's largest grain producers. Serbia’s admission to the IGC comes as the country becomes the world’s eighth-largest exporter of grains.

Foreign Aid

11) FAO study provides recommendations for strengthening family farms

April 27th, 2020, http://www.agronews.rs/fao-preporucuje-jacanje-porodicnih-farmi-u-srbiji/

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published a study on small and family farms in Serbia. The study concludes that, although family farms are the backbone of Serbian agriculture, they face several challenges and constraints to their further development. Some of the key constraints, the study found, are related to a lack of attention from the scientific community and policy makers. To resolve this, the study recommends that policy makers provide an official, legal definition of small and family farms. The study also found that new mechanisms need to be put into place to help transfer agricultural resources to younger generations, which are more inclined to invest in new and innovative solutions. This is also expected to result in the creation of new job opportunities, which would further increase the competitiveness and development of rural areas.

12) FAO, EBRD launch research on the use of technology in agriculture

April 22nd, 2020, http://www.stips.minpolj.gov.rs/srl/vest/pocelo-istrazivanje-o-primeni-digitalne-tehnologije-u-poljoprivredi

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in collaboration with Professor Vesna Bengin of the Biosens Institute of the University of Novi Sad, have launched research into the application of digital technologies in fruit and vegetable production in Serbia. The research is part of a broader project that aims to develop new mechanisms to meet the realities and needs of agricultural producers.

According to Professor Bengin, modern digital technologies can bring great progress to farmers regardless of the size of their holdings, especially in producing greater yields and yields of greater quality.

13) Free online trainings offered to farmers and SMEs

April 14th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/04/14/besplatne-online-obuke-za-poljoprivrednike-mala-i-srednja-preduzeca/

A series of free online trainings was organized for Serbian farmers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as part of the Development of Financial System in Rural Areas in Serbia (SRFP) project. These online trainings were designed to assist farmers and SMEs interested in maintaining and improving their business during the current pandemic period. The trainings featured a number of experts in agriculture, finance, marketing and business development, with a particular focus given to overcoming challenges in crisis periods.

The SRFP project is funded by German development bank KfW and is being implemented by Swiss consulting firm Business \u0026 Finance Consulting and its partners Eduka Plus and Smart IPARD.