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April 22, 2003 - Tuesday |
Milan Prostran on problems and chances of Serbian agriculture
The Secretary for the Agricultural Association of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce states his views concerning the problems and the future of Serbian agriculture.
The state owned agricultural sector is going through privatization. The private sector ought to be enlarged. There are very few farmers with 100 and more hectares of land. Banks are not ready to finance the enlargement of farmers property. The government has assigned to this goal 680 million dinars (€10.63 million) this year.
Technological levels in basic agricultural production are lower than the technological level in 1990. Machines are predominately old and used and their renovation has started just a two years ago. In 1990 farmers and companies used 1.5 million tons of fertilizers; currently they use only 300,000 tons annually.
Food manufactures are in a better position. Many companies have modern technology, especially confectionary producers, mineral water and cooking oil industry, dairies, sugar factories, producers of fruits and vegetables, small plants for meat processing.
The majority among producers have ISO 9000 certificates and some of them are preparing to obtain ISO 14000.
Serbian agriculture has its best chances exporting to the European market the following items: fruit, fruit and vegetable products, frozen food and some specific products like Serbian cheese and
kajmak. Serbia also produces high quality cooking oil, soy products, meat and meat products, wine and spirits. It’s also important top note that Serbia has succeeded in preserving its cattle against cattle illnesses. There have been no reported cases of BSE {bovine spongiform
encephalopathy] in Serbia.
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