Minister: Government will ban exports of food

BELGRADE A failure to stabilize prices and supply of basic foods will lead to the government banning their exports, says Minister of Agriculture Goran Knezevic says. Speaking on Friday in Subotica, northern Serbia, the minister added that this year's drought caused agricultural production losses of about 50 percent. Minister: Government will ban exports of food This now reflects on the prices of food, and it made the government adopt a decree banning the export of sugar beet, sunflower and soybean, Knezevic explained. Opening the Second Agricultural Forum Food for Europe, organized by the Economics Institute and the Serbian Association of Agricultural Economists, Knezevic said that the Serbian government was committed to improving the situation in the economy, especially in the agriculture sector. Fighting corruption, which causes immeasurable damages to economy, takes a special place in this effort, Knezevic stated, adding that fiscal consolidation was important to help the economy operate more easily. The government's goal is to increase the agricultural budget, which will be seen in the 2013 budget, the minister said, adding that next week, the government will adopt a bill on incentives in agriculture, which has already been drafted. In the future, the government will focus on the development of irrigation systems and ways to boost primary agricultural production and will work closely with all relevant institutions in the country on that task, the minister said. The forum's organizers have announced about 130 participants from home and abroad attending the two-day event. The forum is dedicated to current trends and conditions, upcoming challenges, risks and prospects for adapting the Serbian agro-economy in the most demanding stage of EU accession. Goran Knezevic addresses the gathering in Subotica on Friday (Tanjug) Tanjug

Minister: Government will ban exports of food

This now reflects on the prices of food, and it made the government adopt a decree banning the export of sugar beet, sunflower and soybean, Knežević explained.

Opening the Second Agricultural Forum Food for Europe, organized by the Economics Institute and the Serbian Association of Agricultural Economists, Knežević said that the Serbian government was committed to improving the situation in the economy, especially in the agriculture sector.

Fighting corruption, which causes immeasurable damages to economy, takes a special place in this effort, Knežević stated, adding that fiscal consolidation was important to help the economy operate more easily.

The government's goal is to increase the agricultural budget, which will be seen in the 2013 budget, the minister said, adding that next week, the government will adopt a bill on incentives in agriculture, which has already been drafted.

In the future, the government will focus on the development of irrigation systems and ways to boost primary agricultural production and will work closely with all relevant institutions in the country on that task, the minister said.

The forum's organizers have announced about 130 participants from home and abroad attending the two-day event.

The forum is dedicated to current trends and conditions, upcoming challenges, risks and prospects for adapting the Serbian agro-economy in the most demanding stage of EU accession.