Raspberry farming continues to be one of the most important export branches of Serbian agriculture and must receive special treatment, said Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić.
“Next year, subsidies will not be the same for all crops — they will be directed where support is most needed,” Glamočić stated in Arilje during a meeting with representatives of raspberry producers’ associations and the local municipal administration, Beta reports.
He emphasized that the goal of such meetings is to strengthen cooperation between the state and producers in order to identify challenges in raspberry farming early and jointly seek solutions. “We must talk before problems arise. This is the right way for producers and local governments to share their proposals in the field, because agricultural policy should not be shaped in the streets, but at the table,” said Glamočić.
He announced that the Ministry of Agriculture will establish a working group dedicated to the raspberry sector, which will include representatives of associations, experts, and people from the field. “Its task will be to propose measures that will bring stability, improve production, and ensure security for producers,” the minister explained.
Glamočić noted that this year, 96% of all agricultural incentives in the municipality of Arilje were successfully implemented, and that next year there will be differentiated subsidy amounts for various crops.
Predrag Maslar, the mayor of Arilje, pointed out that with a limited municipal budget of 866 million dinars — most of which goes to education and infrastructure — the local government cannot solve key production issues on its own. “State and ministerial support is essential for investments in hail protection, rural roads, irrigation systems, and rural development,” said Maslar.
Lazar Todorović, a representative of the “Vilamet” association, stated that producers recognize that the state has been taking significant steps recently toward stabilizing fruit production. “It is important that this support remains continuous and that funding for fruit growing increases, as it represents one of Serbia’s most promising export sectors. Our goal, through cooperation with the ministry, is to ensure sustainable development and a more secure future for all producers,” said Todorović.
Minister Glamočić announced that he will soon visit raspberry growers in Ivanjica, continuing his tour of fruit producers across western Serbia.
