At the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, Milan Jakovljević, president of the “Zemlja domaćina” farmers’ association, emphasized the need for balanced regional development and stronger state support for rural areas in Serbia. He stressed that preserving villages is vital for national security and demographic stability.
Jakovljević stated that farmers south of the Sava and Danube rivers must be given fair conditions to live and work, particularly in marginal and rural regions. He expressed concern over the quality of imported food and warned that Serbia should not become a cheap raw material base for foreign corporations.
He criticized current trade practices, saying, “We import food used in the West for pets while exporting grain. That is not the way to preserve our villages or our country.”
Jakovljević highlighted the severe depopulation trend, especially in areas like Ivanjica, noting that thousands have moved to urban centers. He warned that 1,200 Serbian villages are already empty, and another 1,800 are on the verge of disappearing.
Despite lower attendance at this year’s fair, possibly due to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, he praised the event’s organization and called for more space to promote domestic agricultural products in the future.
