National organic production organization founded

National organic production development association "Serbia Organica" was founded in Belgrade on Friday (May 29, 2009).

The association was formed at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, as a roof organization for all organic production associations, with the aim of supporting development of organic production and enlarging surfaces used for certified organic production.

The Minister of Agriculture, Saša Dragin, said before the founding assembly that Serbia had great opportunities to enlarge the surface used for organic production from current 1,150 ha to 600,000 ha in a very short time.

- The founding of this association is very important since it will make it possible for the citizens of Serbia to eat healthy food, and it is also significant because it will give the opportunity to farmers to increase their incomes because the prices of organic products are two or three times higher than the prices of products manufactured in classical way - said he.

Dragin said that the Ministry of Agriculture would set aside significant funds in 2009 for organic production, as well as that there were several projects in that field that were backed by organizations like GTZ or USAID.

As he explained, Serbia is working with Slovakia on the programme for harmonization of legal regulations concerning organic production with EU's regulations, as well as on forming of the national certification organization for organic production, while GTZ helps in making of the action plan for organic production in Serbia.

In association with the Herbs Protection Administration, the list of means for protection of herbs and means for feeding of herbs, which can be used in organic production, have been made.

Members of the Council for organic production development will go on a study travel, thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture of Austria, while the study travel for organic food manufacturers from Serbia is in the pipeline.

The President of the Initiative Board, Nada Mišković, said that she expected that the founding of the association would lead to quicker resolving of the problems of all those who dealt with organic production.

She expressed hope that Serbia may enlarge surfaces used for organic production in the following years, just like Austria, of which surfaces for production of organic food are now 16 times larger than 5 years ago.