BFC. Agriculture Finance Bulletin.
rural areas of Serbia. These trainings, offered free of charge, have helped hundreds of participants improve their knowledge in various areas of business, including finding sources of financing, production and marketing. The trainings are currently being conducted in an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and BFC is organizing more trainings due to the popularity of them. Topics for future trainings include insurance in agriculture, geographical origin labels and accessing IPARD funds. The trainings are being conducted in partnership with local companies Smart IPARD and Eduka Plus.
Private Sector 9)
Cereal prices on the rise globally due to food security concerns
October 26th, 2020, https://www.danas.rs/ekonomija/sakovic
The demand for cereals worldwide is growing as concerns over food security (especially in China, the Middle East and African countries) are growing. As such, prices for cereals are growing, and this is being reflected in higher prices in Serbia as well. This is best evidence in the cost of corn (which was about 36% less expensive at this time last year) and wheat (which saw an increase in price of 11% in just one week). Soybeans have also become approximately 27% more expensive over last year.
10) Agricultural exports up 10.3%, even as meat exports fall October 25th, 2020, https://www.danas.rs/ekonomija/korona-pomogla-vocarima-sasekla-mesare/
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, fruit and vegetable producers and exporters have reported an increase in exports of nearly 20%. From January to August of this year, fruit and vegetable exports are the second-most exported goods in terms of value, reaching EUR 564.2 million in value. In fact, exports from the agricultural sector as a whole during the first half of the year grew 10.3% year-onyear. At the same time, meat exports have seen a sharp decline, which has led to domestic prices for meat falling due to oversaturation. The decline in export number is due to the postponement of large meat export agreements with China and Turkey (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as the appearance of African swine fever in the country.
11) Five companies receive licenses to export dairy products to China October 22nd, 2020, http://www.stips.minpolj.gov.rs/srl/vest/jos-dozvola-za-izvoz-mlecnih-proizvoda-u-kinu
After several months of intensive cooperation with the Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China, five Serbia dairies (Mlekara Ub, Mlekoprodukt, Megle Srbija, Imlek AD and Somboled) now have licenses to export to China. This is the first time Serbian dairy producers have received licenses to the world’s largest market, representing a significant opportunity for the country’s dairy industry. It should be noted that work continues to get other interested companies licensed as well.
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