Problems of agricultural and rural development in Serbia and necessity of new agricultural policy

Abstract

The Republic of Serbia has a favorable conditions for agricultural and rural development (5,097 million ha of agricultural land, 85% of the territory is rural). Serbia has a skilled and educated human resources and appropriate institutions for education (high schools, colleges, institutes), as well as a long agricultural tradition. Nevertheless agriculture and villages in Serbia are in the process of decay, devastation and backwardness. Agricultural production in the period from 2000-2015 for example had positive outcome in only four years. The negative development trend was followed with de-agrarianism and demographic emptying of villages. The causes for this are numerous. The authors come to the conclusion that a new paradigm of sustainable agricultural and rural development, as well as the new agricultural policy is need.