IPARD program for farmers – Fifth call to be opened

This month, December 2018, the fifth call for the allocation of funds from the pre-accession instruments of the EU for rural development in Serbia, the IPARD program, will open. Farmers are primarily interested in using the funds to procure new mechanization.

Dragisa Kovacevic of Ruma grows sour cherries on six hectares and says that he needed a new harvester. He applied for IPARD funds and bought a new machine.

– The process started in early January when the contest opened and the decision was made in the sixth month. I've passed two controls and expect another one. This is important to me, to upgrade the mechanization, invest in further production and probably expand the plantations – Kovacevic says.

Serbian farmers stand to get a total of EUR 175 million through IPARD over the seven-year period until 2020. Four public calls have been opened this year, and the fifth one is expected by the end of the year.

– We've received 393 requests for tractors, 85 for mechanization and around 25 for the processing equipment – said Zarko Radat, the head of the Directorate for Agrarian Payments.

The IPARD program is carried out in Serbia by the Directorate for Agrarian Payments and the Sector for Rural Development. They also provide advice to farmers looking to upgrade their production.

– As for the application procedure , it is complicated and the process is new for both those who apply and us who process the requests – Radat said.

Producers whose requests are approved must first invest their own funds. If they've fully adhered to the procedure, a part of the money is returned to them.

– The return amounts to 60% of the price of the machine – Kovacevic says.

Ognjen Miric of GIZ says that agricultural producers don't have enough money to invest and that it is important to find ways for banks to get involved.

Next year, the European parliament will adopt the budget for the 2021-2027 period, and it is expected to feature more funds within the pre-accession instruments.

GIZ Beograd

Uprava za agrarna plaćanja Republika Srbija

GIZ

Directorate for Agrarian Payments

IPARD program

Dragisa Kovacevic

Zarko Radat

Ognjen Miric

EU pre accession funds for rural development in Serbia

purchase of agricultural machines

funds for farmers