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During the months of February and March 2012, the USAID Agribusiness Project will carry out a series of trainings with the aim of assisting the diversification of berry fruit production in Serbia. The trainings will be carried out by eminent Serbian berry fruit experts in Surdulica, Vladicin Han, Kursumlija, Novi Pazar, Rekovac, Priboj, Prijepolje, Bajina Basta, Ljubovija and Mali Zvornik, and will target Producer Organizations such as Associations and Cooperatives.

Topics covered in the training include all aspects relating to growing new crop varieties such as chokeberries, gooseberries, red and black currants, and wild strawberries as well as the introduction of new technologies in growing raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. Participants will be introduced to latest technology advances, sources of supply as well as market opportunities.

Diversification through the introduction of new berry varieties and higher value processed products is a crucial step for Serbian berry producers and exporters in order to sustain their existing market, increase their global market share and competitiveness and increase profits.

Through a combination of technical and financial assistance to date, the USAID Agribusiness Project has strongly supported Serbian berry industry to improve productivity and product food safety, introduce new products, apply latest technologies and access new export markets.

The Project’s assistance in production diversification will continue in spring and summer months by provision of field advisory assistance to producers who invested into the establishment of new or modernization of their existing fields.  

120 women from Novi Pazar, Tutin, Sjenica, Prijepolje, Nova Varos, Priboj, Kucevo, Zagubica, Zabari, Majdanpek, Malo Crnice, Golubac and Petrovac are currently attending the agribusiness entrepreneurship training.  The training sessions are part of the Women in Agribusiness Program jointly implemented by the USAID Agribusiness Project and the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas, within the Ministry without portfolio.

The training program that will last until the end of February presents the basics of entrepreneurship and business plan writing and will encourage women to launch their agribusinesses. Following the training, the women can apply for start-up grants through the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas which has allocated funds for 30 grants.

The USAID Agribusiness Project is financing the training program for women in the 13 municipalities while the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas is providing start-up funds which will enable the women with the best business plans to launch their agribusinesses. Each start-up grant will be up to $15,000 (RSD 1.1 million).

During 2010, the USAID Agribusiness Project introduced the Women in Agribusiness Program so that women could have equal participation in the agribusiness sector, thus increasing the competitiveness of Serbian agribusiness. To date, 300 women have been trained in the basics of entrepreneurship. Eleven women have received in total $160,000 in start up grants from USAID, while the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas has funded start up grants for three women, in the amount of $40,000.

The National Meat Processors Association was formally established today, at the Hotel Zira in Belgrade. Zvonimir Rot, the Deputy Director of the Veterinary Department, Michael Metzler, Deputy Director of the Economic Growth Office at USAID and Aca Paijic, the President of the Association's founding assembly spoke at the event.

The 24 members of the National Meat Processors Association are the following companies: Neoplanta from Novi Sad, Carnex from Vrbas, Pajic Company Group form Paracin, Golija from Raska, Giljeva from Sjenica, Strand from Novi Sad, Buducnost from Kragujevac, Agro Adria from Bujanovac, Braca Djokic from Leskovac, LTS from Lovcenac, Kotlenik-Promet from Ladjevci, Mak from Nis, NID from Tavnik, Sinimpex from Nis, Turkovic from Sjenica, Union MZ from Pozarevac, Mesara Seka, Zlatibormes from Zlatibor, Trlic from Ub, Sopalovic from Mackat, Pro-mes from Novi Becej,  Nedeljkovic from Sasinci, Durdjevic from Subotiste, Mesara Srbija from Leskovac and Oreovica from Velika Plana.

 During the founding assembly held today, it was decided that Mr. Aca Pajic will assume the position of President of the managing board, while the managing board members will be representatives from the following companies: Carnex, Strand, Buducnost, Neoplanta, Pajic Company Group, Giljeva, Sopalovic, SimImpex and Braca Djokic.

Following the official registration of the Association with the appropriate institutions, the initial meeting of the managing board will be organized in order to discuss and decide on the initial association activities and a detailed work-plan of the association.

The 24 member companies together employ over 5,800 employees and have a turnover of 26 billion dinars. By banding together, the founding companies will increase the competitiveness of Serbian meat products in local and international markets, develop more effective marketing strategies, and have stronger representation before national and international bodies and institutions.

The establishment of the Serbian National Meat Processors Association is supported by the USAID Agribusiness Project which will help the association fulfill its planned activities. 

The USAID Agribusiness Project has been assisting Serbia's livestock and meat sectors since 2008 with activities aimed at helping producers implement international food safety and quality standards, introduction of new technologies, and assistance in marketing and export focused activities.

The Serbian National Milk Processors Association (SEDA) today signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the European Dairy Association (EDA) to promote milk processing in Serbia and provide a framework for cooperation between the two associations.

By joining EDA, SEDA members will participate in European Union-led dairy forums and interact with milk producers facing similar challenges.  The memorandum was signed by SEDA President Zoran Matic and EDA Secretary General Joop Kleibeuker.  

The dairy sector in Serbia is of vital economic importance, said Milos Milovanovic, the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management.  He said his ministry would continue to support the dairy sector to the best of its ability.

Susan K. Fritz, the Mission Director at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Serbia, congratulated SEDA’s eight member dairies for their vision and determination to form their association.  “Although it is difficult to collaborate with your competitors, you have recognized that there is strength in numbers – and joint representation,” Fritz said, adding that USAID has been providing support to Serbia’s dairy sector for a decade.

Today’s signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation will further improve the prospects for export to the EU, said Zoran Micovic, the Director of the Veterinary Department.

SEDA was established in November 2011.  Its eight members – Sabac Dairy, Megle, Kuc Dairy, Ekomlek Dairy, Nis Dair, Lazar Dairy, Muza Dairy, and Leskovac Dairy – purchase milk from nearly 11,000 farmers and process 600,000 liters of milk daily.  They employ nearly 1,300 people.  

SEDA, which was established with assistance from the USAID Agribusiness Project, seeks to increase productivity and product quality and enhance the competitiveness of Serbian dairy products.  The USAID Agribusiness Project has helped dairies meet international food safety and quality standards, introduce new technologies, and improve marketing and exports. 

Twelve young entrepreneurs, winners of a Youth Business Plan Competition sponsored by the USAID Agribusiness Project, today received grants totaling $150,000 (11.6 million RSD) to launch their own agribusinesses.

The entrepreneurs were also awarded certificates today by USAID’s Economic Growth Office Director Susan Kutor and Serbia’s Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management Milos Milovanovic. 

During her address, Susan Kutor stressed that the USAID Agribusiness Project will continue to collaborate with the young entrepreneurs in order to ensure they persevere in their aim of creating solid and successful companies. She also noted that "until next September, 16 grantees form the previous business plan writing competition cycle, also organized by the USAID Agribusiness Project, expect a return on investment of four to one, achieved through growth in sales. These grantee companies will by then have employed almost 100 new employees."

The recipients of the agribusiness start-up grants will be launching businesses in a variety of pursuits including milk processing, and fruit, vegetable and medicinal herb cultivation and processing.  All completed an agribusiness training course sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The USAID Agribusiness Project launched its Youth in Agribusiness Project in 2008 to promote entrepreneurship among youth in Serbia.  Nearly 1,250 students from throughout the country have completed its training course.  The business plan writing competition has been held three times and 28 students have received agribusiness start-up funds totaling nearly $370,000 (28 million RSD).