Belgrade – “Almost eight billion dianars more than this year will be earmarked in the state budget for agriculture next year“, said Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimović for the Radio and Television of Serbia and added that those funds, among other things, were intended for the construction of storage facilities, irrigation systems and hail protection.  

"Subsidies for fattening cattle will be increased from the current 10,000 dinars per head to at least 15,000 dinars," said Branislav Nedimovic, explaining that such a decision "makes sense" because of an increase in the price of a kilogram of beef.

“We have the Turkish market, we have opened the Chinese market, while we are opening the markets in some Middle Eastern countries. In oreder to speed up the breeding of cattle, which is important because of manure and conservation of agro-land, we will increase subsidies by at least 50 percent, "he said the Minister of Agriculture.

He said that he did not expect any protests about not increasing the benefits per hectare, which currently amount to 4.000 dinars.

“Four thousand dinars remain, while all other benefits will be increased. For instance, a total of 500 million dinars were earmarked for the purchase of the equipment, anti-hail nets and irrigation systems two years ago, while the budget for that, now, would be around nine billion dinars, "Minister Nedimović said.

Benefits per hectare, he said, generally turned into consumption and were of no use for agro-production.

“Now we will have a lot of money, which will be intended for the construction of storage facilities and walk-in freezers, which is all that is necessary to preserve and sell the goods when their price is good, "the Minister of Agriculture explained.  

He also said that there would be a lot of investment in flood protection systems, irrigation systems and automatic anti-hail protection, as well as that an icebreaker would be purchased.

Source: Serbian Broadcasting Corporation and Coordination Body