Serbia Newsflash Week 41

Serbia marked as high risk country for ASF

The European Agency for Food Safety (EFSA) has marked Serbia as a high risk country for the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). In order to raise the public awareness and underline the importance of the prevention measures against the spreading of the disease EFSA has started a broad campaign in nine countries of South-East Europe including Serbia. By recent estimation, high risk countries include Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. With no cure or vaccine currently available, it is important to prevent outbreaks by taking appropriate individual actions by every involved citizen, tourist, farmer or hunter.

The campaign will contribute to joint efforts by the European Commission and other international organizations working on the eradication of ASF in Europe where numerous outbreaks occurred in recent years.  In outbreak zones, the mass slaughter of farm-kept pigs and wild boars is currently the only effective way to prevent the spreading of the disease to adjacent regions and countries.

Early detection, prevention and reporting are therefore crucial if this epidemic is to be controlled. ASF is a disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. Although it is harmless to humans, it can be deadly for pigs and has serious socio-economic consequences for affected countries. Read more about the pig sector in Serbia here.

Serbian apple export to India about to commence

Serbian Minister of Agriculture has announced that the export of apples from Serbia to India would begin this week. He said that the first containers would be sent to ports in India by which the country can sample the quality of Serbian apples. The Minister said that it was important for new markets to keep opening. He pointed out that, in the previous two years, thanks to the cooperation with the Customs Administration and the Tax Administration, there had not been any problems with shipments being returned due to an inadequate quality of goods.

Previously, the export to Russia could have been jeopardised, but trade remained stable. Due to sound cooperation between the competent authorities and agencies from Serbia and the Russian Federation, all shipments have been adequately monitored thanks to digital systems. The Minister also said that there had been a great demand for plums and raspberries in 2020 and underlined that 2020 was a record-setting year in farming in general, with corn yields being 30% higher compared to a ten-year average. As he said, the yields had been breaking records for three years in a row and that they reached yields of 10  metric tons/hectare in certain places and that the price was at an all-time high.

The Indian summer extended the grape harvest season

Good weather conditions extended the grape harvest season in vineyards throughout of the country. In Eastern Serbia it is a season of riesling. It is important to carefully select the optimal time when the grapes are ready, as the wine is not produced in cellars but in vineyards. After the white varieties of grapes, the red ones will be next in line. In central Serbia Merlot is being harvested and the quality of grapes have not been better in years according to wine producers. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this up-and-coming industry, the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture is planning special subsidies for this sector. The Ministry is also working on harmonizing the current wine regulations with the EU acquies. Read More about the Serbian wine sector here.  

Tobacco farming is conquering northern Serbia

Areas under tobacco production are increasing in Srem, the northern part of the country. Farmers engaged in this type of production improved their cultivation skills and are recording excellent results. Tobacco production requires large investments, but a secured market is the main reason why farmers opt for this plant. This year the price for first class tobacco leaves is €4.4 and for second class €3.6. Farmers are satisfied with these prices and are selling their crop to the processors present in the south of the country: Japan Tobacco and British American Tobacco.

Will Serbia use all IPARD funds? 

Serbia can use 175 million euros from IPARD by 2023, intended for agriculture and rural development. According to information recently presented by the Agriculture Ministry, so far, calls for 130 million euros have been issued. In December 2018, no payments were disbursed, and in May 2019, the payment level was about €300 thousand, while in August 2020, €7.5 million was paid. This initiated the question in the public of whether Serbia would be able to spend all the money or part of that budget would have to be returned. According to Directorate for Agrarian Payment, IPARD does not end tomorrow and it is “a game that is played until the end.” As the Director says, the processing of requests is a lively process, and different situations are encountered. The truth is, she notes, that it is expected that less money will be paid in the first years, than in the later ones.

Business council founded to facilitate operations in Western Balkans

At a meeting of the Management Board in Tirana, the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6CIF) established the Business Council, consisting of owners and managers of 16 large business systems in those countries. The body will monitor the elimination of obstacles to doing business within the region and with the EU and regularly inform Western Balkan governments about it. The council will also propose measures to facilitate business activities and reduce expenses, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) said. Serbian members of the council will be representatives of Elixir Group, Nelt, and Milsped. “By founding the Business Council, which includes owners and managers of 16 large business systems with companies and operations in the entire region, we will allow the business community to participate even more actively in building an integrated regional market and investment destination in the Western Balkans, as well as establishing stronger economic ties in the region,” stated the President of WB6CIF in Tirana. More about this here.

A lot is to be saved if Mini Schengen is implemented 

The Serbian President recalled that recently, a World Bank representative had calculated that the region might save 10-11% in operating costs while importing and exporting goods, if the project were to be implemented. As he added, the project also had a political aspect. “On its own, Serbia is small and weak in relation to Brussels. But, if five states connect, they’d have 20 million people and would not be that insignificant anymore.” The food industry is to profit the most out of this agreement because all barriers of phytosanitary certificates would be eliminated and a joint market would be formed, regardless of its size. The new Serbian Government to be formed in a fortnight will have to keep food safety in its focus and a new attitude towards food processing industry has to be set, said the Serbian Minister of Agriculture.

Belgrade Food Show 2020 to be held on-line

Despite the global crisis, the food industry has not stopped, while its representatives demonstrated responsibility and flexibility. The same goes for the Belgrade Food Show, which will be held online between 23-25 November. Because of its unique value for Serbian and regional producers, the Belgrade Food Show 2020 will not just be another online get-together but it will be a meeting place for talks of key institutions from the region and the EU; representatives of large retail chains and top experts on taste, quality, sales; the best food producers from Serbia and the region.

Photo credit:
"Apple red fruit" by congerdesign from Pixabay