Organic Production in Serbia: The Transition to Green Economy

Statistical Data On Agriculture Of The Republic Of Serbia And The Potential For Introduction Of Organic Farming

Republic of Serbia has a large, not enough valorized, environmental, economic and social capacity of agricultural production. Natural features of land, availability of water resources and climate provide a wider framework for structuring the agriculture which on such grounds could be profitable and sustainable. Agricultural land, especially arable land, is decreasing for the last few decades due to numerous degradation factors. According to the World Bank, at global level, there is a 0,21 ha of arable land per capita, while according to data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia that area in Serbia is twice large i.e. 0,45 ha per capita. Available agricultural land gives Serbia a comparative advantage for agricultural development in the direction of cleaner production of sufficient quantities of very high quality food. At the same time, it does not mean that a reasonable and sustainable use of natural resources should be a priority in any future strategic planning of the development of communities, both rural and urban. Agricultural land, which accounts for approximately 65% of the total territory, by representation, solvency and way of use is very heterogeneous in space (Popović et al, 2011).