At its session held on 6 October 2005, the Agriculture Committee of the National Assembly of the Republicof Serbiadiscussed the report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management on flooded arable land and damage caused by flooding in Jablanica, Nisava, Rasina and Toplica districts. The Ministry submitted the Report of the Joint Commission for Preliminary Damage Assessment to Crop- and Cattle-raising from Flooding in the Municipalities of Zitiste, Secanj and Plandiste in 2005, while the Provincial Secretariat of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina submitted its Report on Damage Assessment in Agriculture from Flooding in 2005 in the Municipalities of Zitiste, Secanj and Plandiste.

The Committee also discussed the request of the presidents of the Bogatic and Boljevac municipalities for compensation for damage suffered as a result of natural disasters, while the president of the Bela Crkva municipality also presented his request to include the municipality in the natural disaster damage rehabilitation programme.

After the discussion ended, the Committee resolved to request the Government of the Republicof Serbiato compensate damage to all municipalities that submitted appropriate documents, within the limits of what was feasible, and not to limit compensation to registered households. The Committee also resolved to request a report on damage rehabilitation expenditure from the Government of the Republic of Serbia, so that it could be assessed whether assets were used for the purpose they were intended it; a comprehensive report on all activities undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in responding to flooding.

The Agriculture Committee also resolved to request the Government of the Republicof Serbiato foresee assets in the budget in the future for agricultural damage prevention.

Committee members registered their displeasure at the failure of officials of the Damage Assessment Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management to appear at the session, although they had been invited.

The session also discussed the request of the chairman of the Bogatic municipal assembly on the planting of genetically modified soy, and the official letter of the Provincial Secretariat of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina regarding the draft Fishing Bill. The Committee is to approach the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry for Science and Technological Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management with a request for fishing to be in the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, as well as for the Ministry, as well as other professional institutions from the field of agriculture, should take a more active part in the discussion on the draft Bill.