The biggest challenge in the coming years in the field of agriculture will be achieving balanced rural development, which would provide all rural inhabitants with equal opportunities to participate in the use of EU pre-accession funds
Effective use of financial resources intended as non-refundable aid for stimulating the development of agriculture and non-agricultural activities in rural areas can significantly impact production improvement and the preservation of rural regions. Progress in economically sustainable agricultural sectors that ensure the production of safe food and environmental protection can only be achieved through a well-organized and well-trained agricultural advisory service. Advisors from various fields—primary crop and livestock production, agroeconomics, mechanization, plant protection, food technology—successfully inform, advise, and educate agricultural producers with the aim of increasing competitiveness, reducing costs, and enhancing the economic efficiency of agricultural production.
An important challenge for agricultural policy, advisors, and producers is the allocation of investment resources for the improvement and modernization of agricultural holdings and diversification.
One of the goals is for the agricultural advisory and expert service to be accessible to all residents of rural areas and to be organized and prepared for implementing demanding standards in agricultural production and introducing new technologies into practice. Professionally trained agricultural advisors and a well-organized agricultural advisory and expert service are prerequisites for successful alignment with and inclusion in the overall European agricultural policy and for the utilization of accession funds.
PSS Ruma is part of the system of agricultural advisory and expert services, of which there are a total of 34 in the Republic of Serbia—12 in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, including one Oenological Station. The operational area of PSS Ruma, which covers three municipalities—Ruma, Irig, and Inđija—encompasses a total of 111,568.5838 hectares, of which 85,749.0499 hectares are arable land.
The entire agricultural production takes place on these areas, with crop and vegetable farming being the dominant types of production. In the crop structure, corn is the most prevalent, occupying 40% of arable land, sugar beet 4%, sunflower 6%, soybean 9%, and vegetables including potatoes 5%. Among winter crops, wheat and other small grains cover up to 30% of arable land. The remaining land is used for orchards and vineyards, with a smaller portion under other industrial crops, including tobacco.
In fruit production, apple cultivation is dominant, covering an area of 1,200 hectares, followed by peach, sour cherry, and other perennial crops.
The Agricultural Advisory Service Ruma has the status of a regional agricultural advisory service and holds certain public control authorities entrusted to it by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Serbia and the Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry.
Based on the Government Regulation of the Republic of Serbia from 2009, PSS Ruma was assigned the task of improving agricultural production in the municipalities of Ruma, Irig, and Inđija.
ACTIVITIES OF PSS RUMA IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AREAS
Advisory Services
- Cooperation with partners – selected registered agricultural holdings,
- Educational activities through direct or indirect recommendations and professional advice aimed at improving agri-food production,
- Introduction of new plant varieties and animal breeds by conducting demonstration trials in crop and livestock production,
- Organization and implementation of lectures, seminars, workshops, and courses,
- Publishing professional publications as well as other forms of public information related to new achievements and legal regulations in the field of agriculture,
- Informing agricultural producers about agricultural policy measures,
- Monitoring and reporting on seasonal agricultural activities,
- Collecting data and working on the improvement of rural development and rural tourism,
- Assisting in the formation and functioning of associations, cooperatives, and social groups in rural areas,
- Informing agricultural producers about sustainable agricultural production and environmental protection.
