Economic crisis and its consequences on the living standard and development of the agriculture in Serbia

The economic crisis had transferred to Serbia at the end of 2008, causing the economic growth slowdown and macroeconomic stability endangerment. Agriculture, the strategic branch of national economy was affected as well, and despite favourable climatic, natural, human and technical-technological potentials, it had influenced reduction of agricultural development far below the real possibilities. Prior to the crisis potentials for agricultural development in Serbia were unused. Comprehensive and more intensive institutional support lacked, along with growing necessity for the concept based on profitability, market orientation and competitiveness of national agriculture. All segments of agriculture would have to be harmonized with the policies of agrarian and rural development of EU, mainly in terms of agri-food safety, and economic, social and ecological efficiency of agriculture. Due to decrease in living standard in most of the households in Serbia various survival strategies models have been created, in which the great part of personal consumption is being used for purchase of agri-food products. Changes in local population’s daily food consumption are reflected not as much in the reduction of quantities used as in the quality of used nutrients. That leads to a conclusion that to food production in Serbia should be paid greater attention, especially during the period of economic crisis.Republic of Serbia, agriculture, food security, economic crisis,employment

POSSIBILITIES FOR INCREMENT OF LIVE STOCK BREEDING COMPETITIVENESS ON THE TERRITORY OF BELGRADE CITY

Belgrade, as administrative, economic and cultural centre of Republic of Serbia, covers total area of 3.224 km2. From this area, 69,1% is agricultural land, which represents fundamental base for establishment of agricultural production. Live stock breeding, on the territory of Belgrade city, as well as in entire Republic of Serbia, is the most important branch of agriculture. On observed territory animal products’ processing industry (dairies and slaughter houses) especially is developed. Because of that, increment of total live stock breeding production is of great importance for this territory. For growth of live stock breeding competitiveness, in this paper work concrete activities are suggested, such as specialization and increment of production intensity, accomplishment of better financial conditions, selection, accomplishment of better primary agricultural products purchase, etc. In this paper work also are considered and described necessary measures which have to be done by governmental institution, local communities, agro complex companies and family husbandries, with main goal to increase livestock breeding production competitiveness.competitiveness, live stock breeding, Belgrade city, agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Livestock Production/Industries,

Economic crisis and its consequences on the living standard and development of the agriculture in Serbia

The economic crisis had transferred to Serbia at the end of 2008, causing the economic growth slowdown and macroeconomic stability endangerment. Agriculture, the strategic branch of national economy was affected as well, and despite favourable climatic, natural, human and technical-technological potentials, it had influenced reduction of agricultural development far below the real possibilities. Prior to the crisis potentials for agricultural development in Serbia were unused. Comprehensive and more intensive institutional support lacked, along with growing necessity for the concept based on profitability, market orientation and competitiveness of national agriculture. All segments of agriculture would have to be harmonized with the policies of agrarian and rural development of EU, mainly in terms of agri-food safety, and economic, social and ecological efficiency of agriculture. Due to decrease in living standard in most of the households in Serbia various survival strategies models have been created, in which the great part of personal consumption is being used for purchase of agri-food products. Changes in local population’s daily food consumption are reflected not as much in the reduction of quantities used as in the quality of used nutrients. That leads to a conclusion that to food production in Serbia should be paid greater attention, especially during the period of economic crisis

Economic crisis and its consequences on the living standard and development of the agriculture in Serbia

The economic crisis had transferred to Serbia at the end of 2008, causing the economic growth slowdown and macroeconomic stability endangerment. Agriculture, the strategic branch of national economy was affected as well, and despite favourable climatic, natural, human and technical-technological potentials, it had influenced reduction of agricultural development far below the real possibilities. Prior to the crisis potentials for agricultural development in Serbia were unused. Comprehensive and more intensive institutional support lacked, along with growing necessity for the concept based on profitability, market orientation and competitiveness of national agriculture. All segments of agriculture would have to be harmonized with the policies of agrarian and rural development of EU, mainly in terms of agri-food safety, and economic, social and ecological efficiency of agriculture. Due to decrease in living standard in most of the households in Serbia various survival strategies models have been created, in which the great part of personal consumption is being used for purchase of agri-food products. Changes in local population’s daily food consumption are reflected not as much in the reduction of quantities used as in the quality of used nutrients. That leads to a conclusion that to food production in Serbia should be paid greater attention, especially during the period of economic crisis

Model of sustainable development at the level of local government

The cooperation between local communities, scientific research institutions and LAGs ‒ local action groups (especially to development oriented agricultural farms, SMEs ‒ small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture) is imposed as necessary during the establishment of the strategy of sustainable agriculture and rural development of any local community in the Republic of Serbia. Only with close cooperation of all interested local stakeholders can be set a realistic SWOT matrix that describes well state of agriculture and rural areas at the local level (picture of internal resources and development constraints, in the context of opportunities and threats of the environment), then definition of adequate development goals and directions of investment activities that would lead to the realization of determined goals of sustainable agricultural and rural development. As any local government should individually find the best possible modalities for making of its own plan for sustainable development of agriculture and rural development, the intention of the Institute of Agricultural Economics from Belgrade, in this case, was the establishment of model for sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas at the territory of Bački Petrovac municipality (Vojvodina region). The core of proposed model is contained in establishment of the document based on completeness and integrativity, social consensus, in other words participation of citizens, farmers and all stakeholders, in order to achieve more efficient decision-making process related to future capital investments

DETERMINATION OF UPPER LIMIT FOR INVESTMENT IN CHERRY PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT

Investing in establishment of cherry plantation has many risks. To avoid that, or in some extent diminish the financial risk, prior to plantation it is necessary to correctly estimate the financial investments for certain growth years, as well as, expected yields during planned period of plantation exploitation. Based on reliable estimation it can be answered the following question: Which is the largest amount of financial assets, which could be invested in cherry plantation, whose exploitation during its life, as means with biological characteristics, can give positive financial effect? By determination of yield value for plantation on area of 20 hectares, this paper work is trying to determine upper limit of financial assets invested in plantation, as one way for estimation and avoidance of financial risk

Contribution Margin in the Mobile Beekeeping on the Territory of Pancevo City

In accordance with available elements of competitiveness of bee products production (primarily natural conditions and long tradition), all stakeholders within the beekeeping in Serbia have to approach more aggressive and from many aspects to the issues of development of mentioned segment of livestock breeding, especially during the period of constant growth of prices and demand for these products in the world. In paperwork was determined contribution margin in honey production within the system of mobile beekeeping on the territory of Pančevo city (production capacity of 50 hives). Also, it was analyzed the level of sensitivity of honey production caused by oscillations in obtained yields and prices of honey at local market, or by change of costs that appear in this production

ECONOMIC POSITION OF SERBIAN AGRICULTURE IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD

The authors wish to present economic position of agriculture in Serbia in the period of transition. Agriculture represents the base and starting point of economic development. Authors observe economic position of agriculture through four indicators by which is determined the importance of agriculture within the national economy. Mentioned indicators are: share of agricultural population in total population; share of agricultural population in total active population; share of agriculture in net national product creation; and participation of agriculture in creation of foreign trade balance. Later, authors provide a brief overview of transition process in Serbia, as well as its impact on the economic position of agriculture

THE INDEXING APPROACH IN MEASURING OF SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

Sustainable society is a society that has ability to maintain a balance between economic, social and ecological processes, or states, over the time period, in order to meet, as current as well as future needs of the population. This is a complex and multidisciplinary concept, which requires establishment of appropriate indexes for measuring of a society sustainability level. Sustainable Society Index (SSI) is considered as one of the most recognized indexes for measuring the sustainability level of a society. In the paper is presented the model of Sustainable Society Index by defining its basic characteristics and trends, parallely with quantitative-comparative analysis of the SSI value at the global level as well as at the level of the Republic of Serbia and neighbouring countries

Strategic goals and priorities of sustainable agriculture and rural development in region of Upper Danube Region

According to the Draft Spatial Plan of Republic of Serbia (2010): spatial integration and functional connection of regional units, that are necessary for achieving ofgreater territorial cohesion within Republic, as well as for development capacities strengthening and greater competitiveness of its constituent parts, leads to the identification process of development zones. One of them is the Danube belt, wider area functionally directed to, or linked with Danube River, which also includes zone along the Sava River. Compact space, linked with west towards Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Austria and Germany, and east towards Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Moldova, is a key development axis for spatial integration of Republic of Serbia with Europe. Economy, transport, tourism, cultural cooperation and other forms ofpopidation connection along this development axis, will be supported by projects related to Corridor 7, or common development strategy based on interstate cooperation of Danube countries and regions. Except underlined, important place will have also protection projects and cooperation within process of natural resources preservation between Serbia and Croatia in the area of Upper Danube region. Unequivocally orientation of Republic of Serbia for European integrations requires different definition ofrole and importance of agriculture, food-industry and rural development, comparing to previous documents and practice. Hence the need for creation of clearly conceived frame like a document - Strategy, as adequate answer on key questions for further development of agriculture and rural areas in the zone of Upper Danube region (Sombor city and municipalities of Apatin and Bac). In possible extent, policy of this development should be adjusted to the Common Agricultural Policy of EU, whose focus is more and more on development of rural areas. By development strategy, as long-term development document, relating the contemporary scientific achievements, are determined strategic goals and priorities of sustainable agriculture and rural development in the zone of Upper Danube region. That was accomplished by fundamental perceiving of existing natural and created potentials, available human resources, previous development directions, present and predictable problems, detail analysis and estimation of environment impacts. According the above mentioned, the most favorable, realistically achievable options of future development are suggested, bringing down the focus on place and role of agriculture in sustainable development of rural areas. Strategic goals and priorities of sustainable agricultural and rural development in the zone of Upper Danube region, presented in this paper work, are mostly global and they just represent view on vision. They are actually answer on question „what we want to achieve?” considering available resources