Agriculture Minister Dragan Glamočić held a working meeting with the leadership of the Agricultural Payments Administration to improve mechanisms of support for farmers and emphasized that efficient and transparent subsidy payments are one of the Ministry’s priorities. “This is just the first in a series of meetings. We want every dinar of state support to reach where it is most needed – to the countryside, the fields, the barns, orchards, and vineyards of our hardworking farmers,” said Glamočić.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Glamočić also emphasized that honoring commitments, especially the deadlines for subsidy payments, is crucial for maintaining trust between the state and farmers.
The Minister stressed that deviations from the agreed terms are unacceptable, regardless of their source, and added that a more serious analysis and possible redefinition of agricultural policy is needed in the near future.
“We are facing numerous challenges, such as disruptions in pig meat production, which shows that we must strategically strengthen the country’s food sovereignty. However, it is important to note that Serbia is in a better position than most of its neighbors when it comes to agricultural stability,” said Glamočić.
He also announced that leading experts from scientific and educational institutions, as well as representatives of agricultural associations, will be involved in the creation of new measures, emphasizing that agricultural policy must be based on expertise and evidence.
“The place for decision-making is in institutions, not on the streets. Incentive measures cannot be formed under pressure, but in accordance with the real needs of the sector and responsibility to the citizens,” said the minister, urging dialogue and constructiveness in the interest of the entire agricultural system.
Glamočić also requested the urgent announcement of a public call for incentives for purchased certified seed and the activation of subsidized loans for farmers.
As he pointed out, these steps should have been taken before the start of the spring planting season.
“It is essential that by the end of the year, we have a clear calendar of public calls for 2026, so that farmers already know what to expect at the beginning of the year, following the practice of the Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture,” he said.
Glamočić highlighted serious shortcomings in the work of the Agricultural Payments Administration, particularly in terms of organization, archiving of files, and overall functioning of the service, adding that he noticed these problems even when he was serving as an advisor to the President of the Republic of Serbia.
He also emphasized that particular attention is being paid to monitoring the budget execution and adherence to payment deadlines.
“It is unacceptable that the realization of subsidies to date is only 14 percent. Results must be measured with data, not excuses,” said the new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management.
According to him, communication with farmers must be continuous and substantive, not formal.
The Minister reminded that Serbia is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of direct subsidies, but such a policy does not always bring the expected results.
“If we want a sustainable system, we must redirect part of the budget towards investment support. This is the only way to improve the competitiveness of our agriculture,” concluded Glamočić.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management added that Glamočić had a meeting with the director of the Agricultural Payments Administration, Slobodan Nikolovski, and his closest associates, with the minister’s chief of staff also in attendance.
