EU expresses support for agricultural development strategy

BELGRADE - Minister of Agriculture Snezana Bogosavljevic Boskovic presented on Tuesday the Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development of Serbia from 2014 to 2024.

At the meeting in the Palace of Serbia, she underscored that the Strategy is aimed at ensuring larger volume of agricultural output, stable earnings for agricultural producers, improving competitiveness, developing rural areas and halting the decline of villages.

The Serbian agriculture has been going through a difficult transition period for years, and that the development strategy should prepare farmers for a market race within the EU, the minister noted.

Boskovic Bogosavljevic said that over 200 professionals and experts had helped draft the strategy, with the assistance from donors, primarily the French Embassy, German GIZ, UNDP, USAID, World Bank.

The participants of the meeting said that the implementation of the Strategy should contribute to improving the business climate in the sectors of agriculture and food production, and bring stable earnings to manufacturers.

EU EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Serbia's Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development in Serbia 2014-2024 provides a good basis for reforms in the field of agriculture and its further development, French Ambassador to Serbia Christine Moro said Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting in Belgrade where the document was presented, Moro pointed out that agricultural development was very important to Serbia's European integration process.

Implementing the strategy at the central, regional and local levels will enable setting up mechanisms to help Serbian farmers make good use of potentials coming from the EU integration process, she said.