Rulebook on vineyard incentives adopted

of producers’ incomes, especially in light of failed wheat crops caused by adverse weather conditions this year. Opponents argue that such a measure unduly influences market movements and causes tensions between producers and buyers. Initially, state authorities ignored the request; however, they recently discussed the matter at a Ministry of Agriculture meeting.

Current estimates have the price of wheat per kilogram at between RSD 16 and RSD 18; but producers need a price of RSD 20 per kilogram to prevent losses.

5) Rulebook on vineyard incentives adopted

June 16th, 2020, http://www.stips.minpolj.gov.rs/srl/vest/donet-pravilnik-o-podsticajima-za-podizanje-vinograda

The Ordinance on Incentives for Raising Perennial Grape Production Plantations has been adopted. The Ordinance prescribes types of investment incentives that are eligible to receive state support (e.g. grape seedling procurement, vineyard preparation) as well as eligible parties (active entities registered in the Viticulture Register). The highest total amount of incentives a party can receive in one calendar year is RSD 80 million.

6) Investments in the “five golden types of fruit” recommended in Serbia

June 9th, 2020, https://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2020&mm=06&dd=09&nav_id=1693288

The National Team for the Revival of Serbian Villages is recommending that Serbian repatriates invest in the production of “five golden types of Serbian fruits”, namely apples, blueberries, cherries, raspberries and strawberries. The Team stated that fruit production has proven itself to be a good model for increasing population standards as well as solving economic, social and demographic problems in the country. Moreover, fruit production helps other branches of the country’s economy by employing 10-20 times more labor force and providing them with higher average wages.

In discussing the call for increased investments in fruit production, the Minister for Regional Development called on producers to also further develop production and processing capabilities by joining forces into specialized fruit cooperatives. To this end, the Team is planning to organize educational visits for interested parties to the most successful fruit cooperatives in Serbia as well as provide them with expert advice on the best ways to form/join cooperatives.

7) Cheese production has tremendous potential in Serbia

June 1st, 2020, https://beta.rs/ekonomija/ekonomija-srbija/128167

The National Team for the Revival of Serbian Villages has determined that cheese production represents a very profitable sector in Serbia and has great potential in the country as a way of adding two to three times the value of simple raw milk production. Of particular note is that Serbia does not have a single registered cheese factory specialized in making cheese under a protected geographical-origin certification. This despite producing and exporting nearly 100 million kilograms of dairy products worth nearly EUR 85 million.

With this understanding, there has been a call to move to both preserve and make economically viable traditional dairy products. Specifically, experts believe that the creation of indigenous products under a banner of geographic origin will help producers market quality traditional products both domestically and internationally. To accomplish this, producers will need to join forces under the umbrella of specialized cooperatives.