State Initiatives

1) Questions over the use of state-owned agricultural land leased to German company

December 23rd, 2020, http://rs.n1info.com/Biznis/a686783/VOICE-Nakon-neuspeha

Thousands of hectares of state-owned agricultural land that Serbia agreed to lease to German company Tonnies are now being cultivated by domestic failed companies and powerful local persons. In 2016, Serbia reached a 30-year lease agreement with Tonnies for use of the land, with an understanding that the company would invest EUR 300 million into livestock production in Serbia. To date however, the company has yet to invest even a single euro, and much of the land leased to them is being used by others. Based on research, it seems that Tonnies is sub-leasing the land instead of using it for its own activities. When asked about the promised investments and why the company has seemingly given up on investing in Serbia, Tonnies was unresponsive.

2) Ministry of Agricultural expands list of young farmers to receive state support

December 19th, 2020, http://www.minpolj.gov.rs/jos-jedna-dobra-vest-za-mlade-poljoprivrednike-prosirena-lista/

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that its list of young farmers who will receive funding from the state this year has been expanded from 2,500 to 3,000. The state support is meant to support young farmers in rural areas who are starting up or expanding their agricultural business. Each recipient is eligible to receive up to RSD 1.5 million for the procurement of seeders, disc harrows, cutters and/or other agricultural machinery as well as for the purchase of planting material or livestock.

3) Incentives for cooperative development to expand beyond agriculture

December 14th, 2020, http://www.rtv.rs/sr_ci/drustvo/krkobabic-pomagacemo

The Minister without Portfolio, Milan Krkobabic, has announced that the government will continue to provide incentives for agricultural cooperatives but will also expand its activities to include cooperatives active in other activities. The Minister also noted that a greater emphasis will be placed on the transfer of knowledge and the use of technology within cooperatives.

4) Prime Minister announces continued government support for agriculture

December 14th, 2020, http://www.tanjug.rs/full-view_en.aspx?izb=613773

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, speaking at the opening of the Novi Sad Agriculture Fair, announced that the government will continue to invest in the strengthening and further development of the agricultural sector. She noted that the sector displayed a particular resilience in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also hopes that continued support will help the sector push further in its transformation to a sector that produces more value-added products (as opposed to just exporting raw materials). This, in turn, will help boost the country’s overall economic growth.