Serbian ministers have selected specific fruit varieties to boost its reputation in the west.

The Minister of Agriculture, Ivana Dulic-Markovic, said the growing region of Valjevo would be best supported by producing selected plum, raspberry, strawberry and sour cherry varieties, as well as focusing on value-added fruit products and assuring fresh and frozen product quality control.

Dulic-Markovic outlined the strategic framework for production until 2007 this week to members of Serbia’s Agriculture Association at the Valjevo-based regional chamber of commerce.

But even these items would struggle to compete on the “demanding western market”, she warned.

The minister highlighted the importance of adopting the latest concepts in packaging and transportation to ensure the fruit arrives from the orchard to cold stores and processing facilities in the best possible condition.

The Serbian Government will support fruit export through subsidies and credit facilities.

Meanwhile growers in Western Serbia are downsizing areas of raspberry production due to its increasing unprofitability.

Until now raspberry growers had enjoyed 15 years of success and production soared in line with rising prices.

But Serbian producers are no longer able to compete against stronger producer countries and dwindling prices worldwide

“Now we are in a situation where premium grade raspberry sells at EUR 1.5 per kilo and “crumble” at half the price,” a Serbian journalist claimed.

Radisa Petrovic, a producer, said: “I had 70 hectares under raspberry, but have decided to downsize to only 20ha. Raspberry production entails considerable financial investments and is very labor intensive. When I calculated last year’s loss and profit account, there practically wasn’t any profit. The harvesters are becoming increasingly more expensive too, so I will only leave an area that my family and I can harvest by ourselves.”

In addition to downsizing the orchards, a reduced amount of organic and artificial fertilisers will be used, which will likely result in even lower yields this year, the journalist claimed.

The buying price for raspberries has dropped dramatically in the last two to three years, to €0.5 per kg last year.

Coldstores are said to have contributed to this trend, by having to sell at a lower price in order to remain in business.

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