According to the data of the “Grain of Serbia” Association, in 2024, 580,000 hectares were sown with wheat, of which only half were sown with declared seeds. Professor Miroslav Malešević points out that Serbia needs about 120,000 tons of seed wheat per year, while only 65,000 tons are produced, which leads to the increased use of seeds “from the attic”. Although economically more profitable at the beginning, such seeds increase the risk of disease and require additional means of protection.
The state increased the subsidy for declared seeds to 17,000 dinars per hectare, and the budget for agriculture in 2025 amounts to a record 149.5 billion dinars, of which 111.4 billion is earmarked for subsidies. However, experts believe that subsidy measures are not enough without a comprehensive strategy for the recovery of seed production. The weather conditions for sowing were favorable, but problems such as aflatoxin and sugar beet root rot continue to threaten the quality of the crop.
Experts warn of the dangers of undeclared seeds
The production of milled products in Serbia is a key branch of the food industry. The basic raw materials are wheat, corn, barley and rye, from which flour, semolina, bran and specialized products are produced. The milling sector consists of large industrial mills, medium-sized enterprises and smaller family mills. While large mills operate in integrated systems, smaller ones offer flexibility and specialization. Production is mainly focused on domestic needs, but a significant part is exported, especially to the countries of the region and the EU.
The market is dominated by wheat flour, while interest in integral and special flour is growing in line with global trends in healthy eating. Prices vary from 69 dinars for T-400 to 185 dinars for spelled flour.
Among the most successful companies in the production of mill products, MB Komerc from Ruma stands out, which has been operating for more than two decades. Their technologically advanced mill enables high product quality, and the profit in 2023 was 259 million dinars. They are followed by Danubius from Novi Sad, part of Delta Corporation, with a profit of 243 million dinars, and Žitoprodukt from Bačka Palanka, specialized in corn processing, with a profit of 80 million dinars.
These companies prove the importance of improving technology and investing in quality, which is key to the competitiveness and sustainability of the milling sector in Serbia.
Source: AgroTV
Source: boljazemlja.com
