This is our export potential: Serbia is dominating in quality of the fruit

Serbia has exported 12,000 tons of raspberries in the last two months and dominates in the quality of the fruit

Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Serbia Branislav Nedimovic said in Arilje that Serbia has exported 12,000 tons of raspberries in the last two months and we dominate in the quality of the fruit. 

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After the meeting with cold storage owners that the claims that raspberries import totally destroys our productions are not true.

Nedimovic said that during January and February Serbia imported only 1,000 tonnes of raspberries, of which 600 tonnes are from Bosnia & Herzegovina, resource ministry announced.

- We are signatories to the various agreements that guarantee the open market, but Serbia is dominating in the quality and the imported goods can not currently compete with the local - the minister said in a statement.

Nedimovic invited purchasers of raspberries and other soft fruit and berries to participate in the formation of a permanent working group within the Ministry of Agriculture which will coordinate activities between them and the company.

The working group will have representatives of the Institute for fruit growing, as well as the Ministries of Economy, Trade and Finance, with the within it Customs Administration.

- We want to look like at raspberry as strategic agricultural product, not only in the context of the redemption price which will be this year, but beyond that, do we have enough storage capacity for the complete production and what will happen in the coming years - said Nedimovic.

He previously visited and Sjenica, where he pointed out that the Serbian agriculture needed more local brands with geographical indications, as well that Sjenica cheese is an example of this. 

- The more products we have with geographical indications, the more agriculture becomes more competitive, then we can get a higher price - said Nedimovic.

He recalled that the relevant Ministry provides incentives for dairy cows that are in the system, subsidies for sheep breeding, as well as premium for milk paid seven dinars per liter.

The minister noted that the premium will not be the same for all, because from 1 January 2018 the premium will be payed depending on the quality. 

- Who has the more quality milk, we will give him more money, to separate the quality from low quality - said Nedimovic.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Beta)