Serbian farmers unhappy with the government's subsidy payments

Farmers claim government has fulfilled only part of its promises

The Serbian government's promises, formalized through an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture for the current and the upcoming year, which concluded last autumn's farmer protests, are being implemented only partially and at a slow pace, stated farmers for Beta news agency.

It is estimated that only about 50% of this year's subsidies for seeds have been paid out so far, despite farmers agreeing to a reduction in the subsidy from €145 per hectare, as promised by Prime Minister last year, to €85 in exchange for faster disbursement. The agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture was signed at the end of October. For the upcoming 2025, the subsidy is expected to return to €145. However, Beta reports that some seed suppliers have already raised prices for corn seeds, set to be planted in the spring. The cost per hectare is projected to range between €180 and €256, depending on quality. "We feared that we would end up merely acting as a conduit for seed subsidies, which we warned about," said Miroslav Matkovic, President of the Assembly of the Subotica Farmers' Association, to Beta. "As soon as subsidies were announced, prices began to rise, which the Serbian government was aware of. They promised to negotiate with seed producers to curb price increases, but it seems nothing has come of it," he said.

Goran Filipovic, President of the Initiative for the Survival of Serbian Farmers, noted that this year's promised €85 seed subsidy is being disbursed after farmers waive their right to appeal. According to promises, the payout should be completed by the end of the year, writes Beta news agency.

Significant decline in bread consumption in Serbia

Bread consumption in Serbia has been steadily declining year after year, according to a report by Biznis.rs. An analysis by the Vojvodina Millers' Association for 2023 highlights alarming trends in the reduced consumption of basic flour-based products, as well as changes in the structure of domestic wheat and flour production.

The average Serbian citizen consumed just 52.49 kilograms of bread in 2023, a significant drop from 91.5 kilograms in 2006—a decrease of 42.6%. Including the estimated annual consumption of pastries, the total per capita consumption stands at approximately 64.49 kilograms. Agroanalyst Branislav Gulan attributes this shift not only to modern dietary habits and a shift toward alternative food products but also to demographic decline. Serbia's population has decreased from 7.62 million in 2006 to 6.62 million by July 2024. This reduction of nearly one million people has further contributed to an annual drop in bread consumption by 350.000 tons. The declining bread consumption has also led to a reduction in the quantity of wheat milled annually.

According to the Žitounija - Serbian Millers' Association, annual flour production has fallen from 1.2 million tons to 1 million tons, of which about 730,000 tons are used for human consumption. Approximately 306.000 tons of flour are used annually for bread and pastries, while 126,000 tons are consumed directly by households. An additional 117,000 tons are used in the production of items such as pasta and biscuits. This trend aligns with broader European patterns. For instance, in countries like Poland and Sweden, the average bread consumption per capita is around 60 kilograms, while in nations such as France and the United Kingdom, it is below 50 kilograms, Biznis.rs reports.

EU invested €20 million in Rabies vaccination in Serbia

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, emphasised the success of the EU-funded rabies vaccination programme in Serbia, which has received €20 million in investment since its inception. Thanks to this initiative, there have been no recorded cases of rabies in the country since 2018.

Speaking in Ecka during an aerial distribution of oral vaccines targeting foxes and other wild animals, he underscored the programme's importance for public health, rural development, and environmental safety. Giaufret also encouraged Serbia to apply for official rabies-free status, reflecting progress in eradicating the disease. He noted that the next step is for Serbia's Ministry of Agriculture to independently assume all vaccination activities to ensure the country remains rabies-free in the long term. Serbian State Secretary Bratislav Corkovic highlighted the broader regional significance of the campaign, noting its role in preventing the spread of rabies across borders, thereby protecting the entire region and the EU's external boundaries. Both officials praised the campaign's impact, calling it a crucial measure for health security and regional cooperation.

Marjanovic family owns the largest quince plantation in the Balkans

The Marjanovic family operates the largest quince plantation in the Balkans, based in the village of Tules near town of Aleksandrovac, reports national broadcaster RTS. The plantation spans 33 hectares and contains 21.250 trees. According to the public broadcaster, the crop is of exceptional quality, thanks to expert supervision and the application of all necessary agricultural measures since the orchard was planted in 2018.

"My family has been purchasing plots in the region of Zupa Aleksandrovacka for 20 years, and we have managed to form a unified area technically consisting of 570 individual plots. The average size of these plots was 7 acres, demonstrating the extensive time and effort required to create the 33-hectare plantation we have today," said manager of the plantation Ms Visnja Marjanovic. The plantation is expected to yield 1,000 tons of fruit at full capacity. The distillery's current capacity for processing the quinces into brandy is 550 tons, and there are plans for expansion.

Technologist Dejan Debeljakovic noted that, in addition to brandy, the quinces can be used for other products such as dried quince, compotes and fruit mixes. The processed quince will primarily be aimed at the international market. Visnja Marjanovic mentioned that the harvest is almost complete, having waited for the optimal moment. "Our main advantage is that the quinces go directly from the plantation to the distillery, preserving the optimal sugar level in the fruit," she explained. Boban Djordjevic, a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade, told RTS that the yield has exceeded expectations. "The yield this season is between 17 and 20 kilograms per tree," he said.