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“Activities of the USAID Agribusiness Project”

“Activities of the USAID Agribusiness Project”. Brankica Obucina Agriculture Information and Policy Specialist. Overview of the Project.

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“Activities of the USAID Agribusiness Project”

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  1. “Activities of the USAID Agribusiness Project” Brankica Obucina Agriculture Information and Policy Specialist

  2. Overview of the Project • The USAID Agribusiness Project is a $24 million, five-year project with the goal of promoting economic growth and expansion within the following six agricultural sectors in Serbia: • Berries; • Dairy products; • Herbs, spices and mushrooms; • Livestock; • Tree fruit; and • Vegetables Cross cutting components: POs, policy, marketing, youth and ABDS

  3. Our mission The aim of the Project is to: • Improve domestic and international sales; • Increase employment; • Expand and improve agricultural processing; • Develop capacity of producer organizations and agribusiness service providers; • Increase exports in existing markets; and • Enable access to and exposure in higher value markets for Serbian agriculture products.

  4. Ongoing activities related to policy • Law on Protection of Plant Breeder's Rights • Law on Public Warehouses for Agricultural Products • Law on Cooperatives • Other laws necessary for the WTO and EU accession • Strengthening and improvement of the Agricultural Market Information System (STIPS) • Activities to promote development of producer organizations, in particular of agricultural cooperatives • Activities to promote international quality and safety standards, namely GlobalGAP, HACCP, and ISO - obstacle in increasing competitiveness of agricultural products in both domestic and international markets

  5. Standards, what is important? • Above all, quality and safety of food • Then, long term relations of suppliers and their clients

  6. What should producers do? Agricultural producers must show interest in: • maintaining confidence of consumers in the food quality and safety; • minimizing harmful effects on the environment, and preserving the nature; • reducing usage of plant protection products; • increasing efficiency in utilization of natural resources • respecting for health and safety of workers

  7. Activities related to international standards • Comprehensive program of support to producer organizations to introduce and gain certification in GlobalGAP and other relevant international standards and quality management systems • GlobalGAP awareness seminars in Novi Sad, Cacak and Nis • Workshops with POs about the GlobalGAP introduction and certification requirements • Financially support selected producers to certify for compliance with GlobalGAP, ISO 14001 and ISO 22000 (up to 50% of the total costs of training/consulting services, and up to 70% of the total costs of certification)

  8. International standards- continuing… • A minimum of 12 producer groups / 150 members will be trained and minimum 8 producer groups / 50 members will receive GlobalGAP or other certification by the end of the year two • Total budget for the Program is $500,000

  9. Ethno Food and Drinks Fair • Organized by the Belgrade Fair and the Ministry of Agriculture with support of the USAID Agribusiness Project (November 26 -29) • Small and medium size producers • Promote production of speciality products and protection of geographic origin

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