In the village of Tolić near Mionica, a Financial Agreement was signed between the Government of Serbia and the European Commission, which provided grants in the amount of 288 million euros for the improvement of agriculture in Serbia. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Agriculture Aleksandar Martinović, Minister for European Integration Tanja Miščević, and EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Žiofre. This agreement enables Serbia to access funds under the third IPARD program, which was expanded by 65% compared to the previous one, bringing Serbia closer to European standards in agriculture.
The goal of the IPARD program is to support legal and natural persons in agriculture in regions throughout Serbia. Through funds from IPARD, farmers can invest in equipment, infrastructure and technologies that raise standards in hygiene, food safety, environmental protection, and animal welfare. This support contributes to the competitiveness of Serbian farmers on the EU market, enabling them to increase productivity and market products in accordance with European standards.
Srđan Miletić, a farmer from Tolić and a beneficiary of the second IPARD program, through the Sixth public call for Measure 1 in the meat sector, obtained funds for the construction of a facility for breeding poultry, as well as for the purchase of equipment for ventilation, feeding and power supply. Miletić emphasized the importance of this support for the improvement of his business, stating that without IPARD the implementation of this project would be impossible. He urged other farmers to use the available funds, stressing that the invested amounts can be returned and that IPARD is not as complicated as many think.
Financial agreement and IPARD beneficiaries
Ambassador Žiofre pointed out that the EU aims to help Serbian farmers in preparing for membership in the Union, and to give them access to funds that encourage competitiveness and rural development. These funds are aimed at improving the agricultural sector and empowering Serbian farmers to respond to the demands of the European market. Žiofre emphasized that Serbia can count on the support of the EU and called on farmers to use the available funds.
The president of the municipality of Mionica, Boban Janković, expressed his pride that his municipality hosted the signing of this important agreement. He also highlighted the support that local self-government provides to farmers. According to him, the municipality of Mionica regularly issues funds for agricultural projects through Public Calls. As he claims, more than 10 million dinars were allocated in the previous period. Janković emphasized that supporting agriculture is part of Serbia’s development policy. He also says that this is another step towards strengthening the economic potential of rural areas.
This financial agreement represents a significant step for Serbian agriculture, enabling investments in modernization and capacity expansion. With the support of IPARD, farmers will have the opportunity to improve their farms. They will also be able to reach European standards and become competitive on the European Union market.
Source: Drop (no, we’re not kidding)
Source: boljazemlja.com
