Foreign Aid

6) RSD 1.25 Billion Paid Out in Agricultural Insurance Subsidies

March 11th, 2021, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/ekonomija/973503/ministarstvo-poljopvirede-1-2-milijarde-dinara-osiguranje

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture paid out 28,100 requests for insurance incentives. This amounted to RSD 1.25 billion. According to the Law on Incentives in Agriculture and Rural Development, the state will cover 40% of the cost of insurance premiums (and 70% for farmers in the Kolubara, Moravica, Podunavlje, Sumadija and Zlatibor districts). For the upcoming agricultural season, the same rules as last year will apply, with incentives available for field, vegetable, fruit, vine, and hops production as well as for nursery and young perennial development. Incentives for animal insurance are also available.

7) Serbia to Implement Faster Organic Certification Processing

March 10th, 2021, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/ekonomija/973473/

The state will speed up the process to certify organic production in order to encourage the further development of organic agriculture in the country. Specifically, certification processes will be performed by a single platform instead of by subcontractors.

It should be noted that organic exports have increased significantly in the last three years, making organic production an important segment for growing Serbia’s agricultural sector as well as its overall economy.

8) Ministry of Agriculture to Allocate RSD 25,000 per Hectare for Organic

Production

March 8th, 2021, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/ekonomija/972478/raste

The Ministry of Agriculture is allocating funding for organic food producers in the amount of RSD 25,000 per hectare (up to RSD 1,000,000 in total). The decision to continue direct financial support comes after organic exports increased 30% in 2020. Funding will be made available to help organic producers attain certification and harmonize production processes with international requirements.

9) Minister of Agriculture Justifies Reduced Diesel Subsidies for Farmers

March 5th, 2021, https://rs.n1info.com/biznis/smanjene-subvencije-poljoprivrednicima-ministar-se-pravda-jeftinijim-dizelom/

Speaking to critics of a recent government decision to reduce diesel subsidies per hectare from RSD 5,200 to RSD 4,000, Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic noted that reducing dependence on the state is important for the long-term planning and development of the agricultural sector. Moreover, the Minister pledged to keep a close eye on diesel prices and intervene if prices rise.

Foreign Aid

10) Free Online IPARD Trainings Held in March

March 28th, 2021, http://www.agronews.rs/besplatne-onlajn-obuke-o-ipard-u-biznis-planu-i-kreditima/

The Smart IPARD consulting agency organized a series of free online trainings on the IPARD program in late March 2020. The trainings, which are part of the KfW-funded SRFP program being implemented by Swiss consulting agency Business & Finance Consulting (BFC), included a general information session on accessing IPARD funding (including a question-and-answer period) and a session on how to negotiate with financial institutions and prepare a loan application (including creating a good business plan).