At the sitting held on 22 December, the members of the Agriculture Committee considered the Bill on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Serbia, Section 19 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.

Minister of Agriculture Sasa Dragin declared the increase of the 2011 agrarian budget from 2 billion to 20 billion RSD insufficient to satisfy the needs of Serbian agriculture. He reminded the Committee members that the Ministry urged that the agrarian budget be made equal to that in European countries i.e. to make up 5% of Serbia’s budget, however agriculture takes up 2.6 to 2.8% of next year’s overall budget. Dragin pointed out that, besides the military industry, agriculture was the only economic branch to demonstrate an increased export rate and would this year export 2.5 billion USD worth of produce and realise a billion USD in surplus.

In the debate, the Committee members voiced their dissatisfaction with the funds planned for next year highlighting the Serbian farmers’ problems. They proposed a reallocation in favour of the agrarian budget as the funds allocated for agriculture cannot meet the expectations of those dependent on budgetary funds. The proposals that the Committee should submit an amendment demanding an increase in the agrarian budget were not adopted.

After the debate, the Committee endorsed the Bill on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Serbia, Section 19 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.

The sitting was chaired by Prof. Dr Zoran Masic, Committee Chairman.