Crisis "not affecting agriculture"

Despite the economic crisis, agriculture in Serbia has made USD 320mn surplus in the first six months of the year, according to government officials. The surplus in the sector for the whole of 2008 was USD 600mn. Crisis "not affecting agriculture" The government’s predictions that the crisis would not affect production and exports of agriculture products proved to be true, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said at the opening of the Serbia Agro-Business 2010 – International Integration and Perspective conference. “In the time of the greatest economic crisis, we are seeing growth in agricultural production and growing surplus in trade. In this way, agriculture in Serbia proved that it is, next to military industries, our best economic branch,” Agriculture Minister Sasa Dragin said. Despite the goof results in 2009, there must be constant investment in the agriculture sector, Cvetkovic said. “We will continue in the coming year, through subsidies and other forms of support, to enable a fast development of our farming. Also, the development of agriculture is one of the pillars of equal regional development which represents one of the main orientations of this government,” he said. The income from the agriculture represents hope that the entire economy can move forward, USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey told the gathering. USAID has provided help to Serbian farming through a business program worth USD 20mn. “The agriculture sector is one of the engines of the Serbian economy. Serbia’s road to the European Union is the main goal, and that is possible only if the Serbian economy is able to keep up with the European market. The agriculture sector was already shown that it can compete with the best,” Harvey said. According to the Agriculture Ministry, there will be more money from the budget going towards agriculture next year. More than 150 agriculture business managers in Serbia are participating in the conference, also with production representatives, association, international organization and academic institution officials.

Crisis "not affecting agriculture"

The government’s predictions that the crisis would not affect production and exports of agriculture products proved to be true, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković said at the opening of the Serbia Agro-Business 2010 – International Integration and Perspective conference.

“In the time of the greatest economic crisis, we are seeing growth in agricultural production and growing surplus in trade. In this way, agriculture in Serbia proved that it is, next to military industries, our best economic branch,” Agriculture Minister Saša Dragin said.

Despite the goof results in 2009, there must be constant investment in the agriculture sector, Cvetković said.

“We will continue in the coming year, through subsidies and other forms of support, to enable a fast development of our farming. Also, the development of agriculture is one of the pillars of equal regional development which represents one of the main orientations of this government,” he said.

The income from the agriculture represents hope that the entire economy can move forward, USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey told the gathering.

USAID has provided help to Serbian farming through a business program worth USD 20mn.

“The agriculture sector is one of the engines of the Serbian economy. Serbia’s road to the European Union is the main goal, and that is possible only if the Serbian economy is able to keep up with the European market. The agriculture sector was already shown that it can compete with the best,” Harvey said.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, there will be more money from the budget going towards agriculture next year.

More than 150 agriculture business managers in Serbia are participating in the conference, also with production representatives, association, international organization and academic institution officials.