Veljko Djordjevic, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection rural development group, said that there are 35 advisory services operating on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, 23 of which are in central Serbia, employing 173 advisors, and the remaining 12 are on the territory of AP Vojvodina, employing 85 advisors. Though the number of advisors is less than optimal, all the municipalities which have agricultural households do receive adequate assistance. The advisors necessitate help from more university professors and closer cooperation between local self-governments and advisory services.

The officials also discussed stimulation packages, additional cuts in the interest rates for the subsidized loans for mechanisation of agricultural households, as well as future projects announced by the competent ministry, so–called advisory modules to assess the hygiene of milk on livestock farms and improve the quality of dairy products.

Following a discussion the Subcommittee unanimously accepted Subcommittee Chairman Milija Miletic’s conclusion proposals to increase the number of advisors and experts in municipalities with the status of marginal – underdeveloped areas to assist in the field, provide training and licencing of local self-government experts and establish better communication between local self-government experts and advisors in the agricultural expert services.

The sitting was chaired by Subcommittee Chairman Milija Miletic, and attended by Subcommittee members Dalibor Radicevic and MA Marko Milenkovic, MP Prof. Dr Ljubisa Stojmirovic, Zeljko Radosevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Veljko Djordjevic, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection rural development group, Bozidar Stojanovic, Director of Agricultural Expert Service Nis, Sasa Stojiljkovic, head of the Agricultural and Rural Development Administration in Nis, Dr Bratislav Pesic, Director of Agricultural Expert Service Leskovac, Vlada Krstic, head of the municipality of Svrljig Economy Department, and Zoran Jozic, President of the municipality of Blace.