BFC. Agriculture Finance Bulletin.
scheme, greater support for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and invitations for American investments in the country.
6)
Unused IPARD funds could have to be returned
September 22nd, 2020, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/ekonomija/919662/
Of the EUR 175 million in IPARD funds intended for the 2014-2020 period, only EUR 7.5 million have been spent. This has led to the very real possibility that much of the funds will have to be returned. Although interest in the program funds has picked up in the last two years, many (including IPARD representatives) note that progress in this direction has been slow. There have also been discussions to reallocate funds to other measures with greater interest.
7)
Free trainings on business plan development offered under SRFP
September 9th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/09/09/srfp-besplatne-obuke
Farmers, entrepreneurs and representatives of small- and medium-sized enterprises received free online trainings to help them develop their businesses and access new sources of financing. The trainings, offered under the KfW-funded Development of Financial Systems in Rural Areas in Serbia Program (SRFP), were developed by Swiss consulting company Business \u0026 Finance Consulting (BFC) in partnership with local Smart IPARD and Eduka Plus.
8)
IPARD Measure 7 application call extended
September 6th, 2020, http://subvencije.rs/uncategorized/ipard-mera-7-podsticaji-za-seoski-turizam/
The deadline for the submission of IPARD applications for funding under Measure 7 (farm diversification and business development) has been extended through October 31, 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify under the program, a person must be registered in the Registry of Agricultural Holdings with an active status and classified as a micro- or small-sized legal entity. Measure 7 provides up to EUR 50,000 for simple business plan investments and up to EUR 300,000 for complex business plan investments. Successful applicants will also have to demonstrate own contributions of at least 35% of the total investment costs.
Private Sector 9)
Average production from Serbia’s agricultural sector predicted this year
September 24th, 2020, http://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/463180/
Experts are forecasting an average year for Serbian agricultural production this year. At the same time, the financial results for producers are expected to be greater than average due to market conditions and rising prices, especially for the main crops of corn, wheat, sunflowers and soybeans.
10) 30-40% of Serbian farms rely on some digital technology September 17th, 2020, http://www.agronews.rs/svako-trece-gazdinstvo-u-srbiji-digitalizovano/
Preliminary results of the EUR 28 million Antares Project, which aims to increase the use of digital technologies in the agricultural sector, indicate that approximately 30-40% of domestic farmers already rely on some kind of digital technology. This is an encouraging sign that a large number of medium-sized producers understand how the use of new technologies can improve yields and quality while also reducing costs and mitigating the effects of climate change. Page 3
