The first round table in Selenča - Production and placement of organic food

In Selenča, on 5 December, the first out of three regional round tables within the public campaign Organic Food Month, realized by the Agro Cluster of Serbia and NALED in order to provide an opportunity for producers, consumers and their associations, representatives of line institutions and the expert public to offer solutions for improving the conditions for the production and placement of organic food in Serbia. 

The event brought together the representatives of Agro Cluster, Center for Organic Production in Selenča, National Public Policy Secretariat, NALED, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, certification companies, as well as a large number of organic producers in Serbia. 

The discussion revolved around the benefits and weaknesses of Serbian organic producers' position, while also considering the proposals and recommendations for improving the production and placement of organic products.

It was concluded that, for years back, organic farming has stood as a development opportunity and underused potential, due to a series of administrative and systemic obstacles faced by the producers. Some of the problems refer to the placement of organic products with a higher degree of processing, non-aligned deadlines of permits and procedures validity, non-aligned regulations with the EU laws. A particular topic were the incentives for organic farming, which the producers find to be inadequately stimulating.

The goal of the round table in Selenča, and the following ones to be organized in Užice on 12 December and Valjevo on 17 December within the campaign is to reach the best solutions through a dialogue between the public and private sector.

The „Organic Food Month“ is part of the four-year Public Private Dialogue Project financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by NALED in cooperation with the National Public Policy Secretariat. 

During the public campaign, anynone interested may submit their recommendations and join the dialogue via website www.jpd.rs.