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Foreign Aid
5) Credit Agricole Serbia issuing subsidized loans
May 15th, 2020, http://subvencije.rs/vesti/subvencionisani-krediti-za-poljoprivredu-credit-agricole-srbija/
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Credit Agricole Serbia, in cooperation with a Ministry of Agriculture program, is disbursing subsidized agricultural loans with fixed interest rates of 1-3% per annum. The loans are intended to encourage the procurement of agricultural machinery and raw materials for plant or livestock production. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, loans of up to RSD 3 million for maintaining liquidity are also being issued under the program this year at a fixed rate of 1% per annum and for a period of up to 36 months.
The loans are available to agricultural holdings, agricultural households, entrepreneurs, legal entities and cooperatives. The maximum loan amount for individual farmers is RSD 6 million; for legal entities, the maximum loan amount is RSD 18 million.
6) RSD 410 million in emergency state support paid out to farmers
May 9th, 2020, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/ekonomija/aktuelno.239
A total of RSD 410 million has been paid out from the state to vegetable producers as a one-time emergency financial aid measure to support farmers amid the COVID-19 crisis, with similar aid expected to also be given to small dairies and apiarists older than 70 years of age. Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic has also indicated that florists are likely to be included in the special measure.
The state has allocated RSD 1.15 billion for this special measure. It is available to any farmer registered in the Register of Agricultural Holdings, even if they are not in the state’s VAT system.
May 1st, 2020, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/ekonomija/aktuelno.239
The government has formed a working group to improve the production and marketing of raspberries. The working group will examine and provide recommendations for all critical points along the value chain and will also consider possible measures to improve climatic and soil conditions as well as transport and storage conditions. The working group includes representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Customs Administration, the Ministry of Trade, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and various faculties, institutes, manufacturers and associations.
Foreign Aid
8) Free online trainings to support local businesses
May 27th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/05/27/onlajn-obuke-kako-do-kredita-i-pomoci-u-postkovid-periodu/
Experts in the fields of agriculture, finance, marketing and business are lending their expertise to Serbian small- and medium-sized enterprises within the Development of Financial Systems in Rural Areas in Serbia (SRFP II) program. Specifically, the SRFP II program has organized two free online training events this June on the topics of Preparing Loan Applications, which will emphasize applying for government and other post-COVID-19 programs, and Financial Planning and Cost Optimization.
The SFRP II program is being funded by German development bank KfW and is being implemented by Swiss consulting company Business & Finance Consulting (BFC). Eduka Plus (from Nis) and Smart IPARD (from Novi Sad) will be conducting the training events.
9) Experts discuss how consumer communication is a key success factor
May 22nd, 2020, http://www.stips.minpolj.gov.rs/srl/vest/usaid-komunikacija-sa-potrosacima-je-kljuc-uspeha
A panel discussion entitled Brand Communication and Loyalty: What Has the Crisis Taught Us? was held under the Competitive Economy Project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). During the panel, experts discussed the ways food producers are communicating with consumers during the crisis, how well producers are at adapting to meet consumer needs and how consumer expectations are changing as a result. They also discussed the importance of investing in strengthening relations with consumers as well as predicting changes that are likely to follow the crisis period.
10) Panel discussion on the importance of online food sales
May 6th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/05/06/onlajn-prodaja-hrane-sve-zanacajnija-za-male-proizvodjace/
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under its Competitive Economy Project, organized the Small Food Producers: Markets and New Sales Horizons online panel to discuss the importance of online markets for small producers, especially in light of COVID-19 crisis measures. Of particular note during the panel discussion was the launch of the online platform ePijaca, which directly connects producers and consumers. The platform has seen initial success and now has over 2,000 registered users and 1,300 mapped producers. Perhaps more importantly, several retail chains have also joined the platform. While ePijaca has proved successful during the crisis period, it remains to be seen if it will be successful once traditional markets resume normal operations.
11) Free online trainings organized under SRFP II program
May 1st, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/05/01/besplatne-obuke-o-digitalnoj-transformaciji/
Free online trainings for Serbian small- and medium-sized enterprises (including agricultural enterprises) were organized earlier this month under the Development of Financial Systems in Rural Areas in Serbia (SRFP II) program as part of a concerted effort to transfer knowledge related to developing digital marketing strategies.
The SFRP II program is being funded by German development bank KfW and is being implemented by Swiss consulting company Business & Finance Consulting (BFC). Eduka Plus (from Nis) conducted the training events.
12) FAO, EBRD launch project to improve use of technology in agriculture
May 1st, 2020, http://www.rtv.rs/sr_ci/vojvodina/novi-sad/primena-digitalnih-tehnologija
The application of information technologies in agriculture is inevitable. For that reason, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are implementing a large-scale project in Serbia, Ukraine and Turkey to introduce digital technologies into the vegetable and fruit sectors. The project is likely to explore how digital platforms can be leveraged to sell produce as well as how other technologies can be used to improve production activities and product quality.
