6 minute read
Private Sector
9) 12.5 million tons of biomass to go unused
November 26th, 2020, https://www.ekapija.com/en/news/3084705/a-total-of-125
Advertisement
After agricultural works have been completed on 3.47 million hectares in Serbia, over 12.5 million tons of biomass are expected to be left unused, including 9 million tons in Vojvodina. Biomass is a great unused energy potential for the energy independence of Serbia. It also helps reduce the emission of harmful gases and generates a number of direct and indirect employment opportunities.
10) Belgrade Food Show 2020 held
November 23rd, 2020, http://www.agronews.rs/poceo-je-belgrade-food-show-2020/
The Belgrade Food Show 2020 officially was held in late November 2020 and featured panel discussions, lectures and interviews with representatives of key institutions and leading experts in the food industry. This was the third iteration of the international fair of high-quality food and, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held in an online format for the first time. The Fair gave Serbian producers of high-quality food and beverages the opportunity to present their businesses and products as well as virtually meet with customers and distributors. The event was organized by the Association for the Promotion of Serbian Food, with support provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
11) COVID-19 pandemic has not impacted dairy production
November 22nd, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/11/22/pandemija-ne-remeti-proizvodnju-mleka/
The COVID-19 pandemic has not interrupted the work of the dairy sector, with dairy farmers noting that the production and delivery of raw milk is taking place as usual with no delays. This is important as milk production does not cease, and delays could lead to spoilage (and lost product). Moreover, dairy farmers also report that there have been issues with receiving payments for their production from processors.
It is estimated that Serbia produces 4,300,000 liters of milk annually.
12) Meat imports twice as high as meat exports
November 19th, 2020, https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Biznis-i-ekonomija/258883/Uvoz
According to the data provided by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the total export of meat and meat products in the first nine months of 2020 was valued at EUR 67.5 million. At the same time, the total import of meat and meat products in the first nine months of 2020 was valued at EUR 116 million. This represents a growth in imports against exports, which is mostly due to processors importing meat for their work. Imported meat has mostly come for the European Union, where the prices of pork meat fell due to African swine flu and the blockade of German sales in China.
13) High interest in organic food production
November 19th, 2020, http://www.tanjug.rs/full-view_en.aspx?izb=606909
According to the National Alliance for Local Economic Development, requests for organic food production subsidies are twice as much for the funds set aside in the national budget for that purpose, indicating a growth and strong interest in organic production in the country. In fact, the total area used for organic production in the country has grown by 236% in the past ten years (although it still only accounts for 0.6% of all agricultural land in use). The main obstacles faced by organic food producers are high initial investments and demanding administrative procedures.
14) Raspberry demand up worldwide
November 18th, 2020, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/ekonomija/936763/korona
The COVID-19 pandemic has served as an impetus for increased worldwide demand for fresh and frozen fruits, including raspberries. With raspberry production on the decline in recent years, an increase in demand is good for producers as they are able to command a more favorable purchase price. In fact, the price of Serbian raspberries in international markets exceeds EUR 3 per kilogram and is continuing to grow.
Experts note that the more favorable prices this year will likely lead to producers investing more in their plantations. Although this will somewhat improve raspberry production in the country, this is not expected to have a significant impact in the long term.
15) Low chicken meat prices have poultry farmers concerned
November 17th, 2020, http://www.agronews.rs/zivinari-upozoravaju-na-dampingovanu-cenu-piletine/
The price of chicken meat has dropped so low that it has become unsustainable economically for poultry farmers, particularly with a recent rise in the price of chicken feed. In fact, greater competition and the huge stock of chicken meat in the market has led to prices being nearly half of what they were just 3 years ago. Many producers do not see a solution that will enable them to become economically viable again; however, others are calling for state action to prevent retailers from selling at low prices or possibly set a base price as the entire sector has reached a precipice that could lead to the destruction of the sector as a whole.
November 17th, 2020, https://www.ekapija.com/en/news/3072957/agriculture
According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Serbia’s agricultural sector brewed by 2.2% in the first half of 2020. Given the importance of agriculture to Serbia’s overall GDP (being at 7.5%), meant that Serbia’s overall economic activity only dropped 1% in the first half of the year, the best result in Europe. At the same time, many believe that Serbia’s economy would benefit even more if innovative solutions were implemented in its agribusinesses, something that will be discussed at the upcoming Summit of Business Leaders – CEO Summit Beograd, which will be held online in early December 2020.
17) Local markets remain a significant link in the agricultural supply chain
November 16th, 2020, http://www.agronews.rs/pijace-i-dalje-znacajna-karika-na-trzistu-poljoprivrednih-proizvoda/
Despite new forms of trade (e.g. e-commerce, supermarkets and megamarkets), local markets are still one of the most important links in the chain of supplying the population with fresh and safe food (especially home-grown fruits and vegetables). Such markets emphasize the value of domestic products from the immediate environment and offer smaller producers efficient, easily-accessible and economically-viable distribution channels that are open daily.
Each day, about 80,000 agricultural farms, producers, craftsmen and traders sell their goods in the country’s 400 registered markets. This includes the sales of vegetables (33% of the market), fruits and grapes (22.5% of the market), poultry and eggs (13.2% of the market) and milk and other dairy products (12.8% of the market).
18) Call for investments to increase raspberry production
November 13th, 2020, http://www.rtv.rs/sr_ci/drustvo/nedimovic-rad
Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic, during a visit to Prilike (Ivanjica municipality), noted the importance of raspberry production in the country. In particular, the Minister called for increased investments new planting material and the application of agrotechnical measures to achieve higher yields. The Minister also pointed out the importance of the agricultural sector as a whole for Serbia, especially during times of crisis such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
November 12th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/11/12/cene-poljoprivrenih-proizvoda
Producer prices of agricultural and fishery products in September 2020 increased 8.1% year-on-year. This includes increases in the prices of fruits (up 19.3% year-on-year), industrial plants (up 12.5% year-on-year) and cereals (up 6.9% year-on-year). At the same, the producer prices of agricultural and fishery products fell 1.9% in comparison to August 2020 prices. On the whole, producer prices of agricultural and fishery products for the January—September 2020 period increased by 3.1% on average.
November 10th, 2020, http://www.stips.minpolj.gov.rs/srl/vest/osnovano-udruzenje-uvoznika-i-distributera-vina
A large number of Serbian importers and distributors of wine have recently united under the newlyestablished Association of Importers and Distributors of Wine. The founders of the association say that it will, among other things, be dedicated to fighting monopolies and providing fair market conditions.
November 8th, 2020, https://www.ekapija.com/en/news/3064058/novi-sad
The Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair was held in an online format this year in mid-November 2020 on the expoonline.rs platform. The Fair allowed companies, institutions and individuals to connect as well as showcased products made by award winners from the Best in 2020 contest.
Prepared by Business & Finance Consulting (BFC) www.bfconsulting.com Articles are taken directly from local sources without any fact-checking; they are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. Business & Finance Consulting (BFC)’s editing is limited to providing a short summary in English of the texts, highlighting the main points of the original articles. All rights reserved by the authors. BFC takes no responsibility and does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, or assume any responsibility whatsoever for the content, accuracy, and reliability, or completeness of any of the articles.
