At the 34th sitting, held on 5 September, the members of the Subcommittee for Monitoring the Agricultural Situation in the Marginal - Most Undeveloped Areas in the Republic of Serbia discussed fishery in the least developed areas.
Subcommittee Chairman Milija Miletic said that underdeveloped areas in the south of the country are suitable for the development of fisheries, especially for trout farming. Though there are some production capacities in this part of the country, Vojvodina is at the forefront of carp production and Miletic believes that an additional engagement of local self-governments, the relevant ministry and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce could help set the groundwork for the development of fish farming in the underdeveloped areas in the south.
The representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Veterinary Directorate briefed the Subcommittee members on the measures conducted to stimulate the development of fish farming. The Ministry has employed three measures to stimulate the development of fishery and aquaculture – 10 RSD per 1kg of fish, for which 10 million RSD were secured this year, 300 and 500 RSD for the development of brood carp and trout, and to stimulate the development of aquaculture facilities up to 1.5 million RSD.
The Veterinary Directorate plays bot an advisory role and assists in the registration of fisheries and fish processing facilities. Though fisheries can be found all over Serbia, there is a marked difference between the south and Vojvodina. The operating fisheries in the south require more investments and one of the biggest problems is the lack of adequate collection, packing and freezing facilities and transportation capacities. The plan is to boost production so that after domestic needs are met the excess can be exported, primarily in the region.
The Subcommittee members and the representatives of the Ministry and Directorate went on to discuss the drop in fish production, increased import of river fish and its lagging export, after which they unanimously decided to suggest to the local self-governments to explore the potentials for the development of fishing and present them to investors.
The sitting was chaired by Subcommittee Chairman Milija Miletic, and attended by Subcommittee members Dalibor Radicevic, Mladen Lukic and Zarko Bogatinovic.
