At a meeting with representatives of the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Anja Javor, Head of the Cabinet and Assistant Minister of Agriculture for International Cooperation and European Integration, discussed the continuation of the development of the new Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy with the support of FAO.
Photographer: m/m (image in the public domain)
Izvor: Wikimedia Commons
The meeting discussed joint projects related to antimicrobial resistance, African swine fever, digitalization and food systems, and cooperation in the field of food safety was highlighted as a priority for the future. It was assessed that the cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO is long-standing and at a high level, with a mutual desire to improve and intensify joint activities.
The Ministry and Pig Breeders on further actions
Also, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture held a meeting with the Association of Pig Breeders of Serbia, slaughterhouses and companies for the production and distribution of meat and meat products. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the problems and challenges faced by these industries, as well as to jointly look at potential solutions. Nenad Katanić, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, emphasized that the state has already provided support to breeders through affirmative measures, but that it is also important to protect the domestic slaughterhouse industry.
Izvor: Wikimedia Commons
The present representatives of the pig and meat industry expressed their gratitude to the Ministry for the help so far in solving certain problems, but they emphasized that the complex situation in this branch of agriculture required a long-term strategy that would ensure sustainability. As one of the solutions, the formation of an operational working group was proposed, which would include representatives of the Ministry and all interested parties, in order to systematically search for the best solutions. Also, the need to improve business relations between producers and slaughterhouses, along with long-term contracts that would specify mutual obligations, was emphasized.
“Empowerment is important”; FAO and the alliance with cattle breeders (and their significance)
The following participated in the meeting in front of the Ministry of Agriculture:
- State Secretary Livija Pavićević
- Assistant Minister Milica Neđić
- Assistant Minister Nenad Katanić
- Director of the Veterinary Administration Živko Matijević
- Director of the Administration for Agrarian Payments Slobodan Nikolovski
- Head of the Animal Husbandry and Livestock Products Processing Group Nenad Terzić.
Zoran Ilić, Ronald Holo and Miodrag Vlaškalić were present on behalf of the Association of Pig Breeders of Serbia. In front of the meat industry, the following participated:
- Pavle Paunović and Predrag Damjanović from the company Trlić
- Jovica Grujić from the Đurđević slaughterhouse
- Bratislav Bogatić from Agro-Papuk
- Zoran Matijević from the Matijević slaughterhouse
- Marko Đorđević from Juhor
- Dušan Knežević and Mirko Stojanović from Zlatiborc
- Aca Tomašević from Neoplanta
- Radoje Žunić and Nataša Ljubojević Vesović from the company Žuna trade
- Radoslav Nedeljković from Nedeljković Slaughterhouse and Meat Processing.
It was concluded that it is important to strengthen the cooperation of all participants in order to overcome the challenges faced by this branch of agriculture, and the long-term goals are focused on improving food safety and the stability of the meat industry.
Source: boljazemlja.com
