Proizvodno ekonomski značaj kukuruza u poljoprivredi Republike Srbije | Production and Economic Importance of Corn Production in Agriculture of the Republic of Serbia

Corn represents a crop with the highest share of utilized agricultural area (UAA), as well as the greatest value in total value of agricultural production in the Republic of Serbia. Therefore, the analysis of the economic characteristics of corn production in the Republic of Serbia is of strategic importance for the development of agriculture. The goal of this research is to point out the significance of corn production in the Republic of Serbia from the aspect of UAA, as a limited resource, and from the economic aspect, which determines all agricultural production in the Republic of Serbia. For the purpose of this research, data was used from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia for the period between 2000-2018. The research observed the total harvested area under corn, the average annual yield, the total production of mercantile corn, as well as fodder corn. The research also analyzed the economic characteristics of mercantile corn production in the Republic Serbia. It observed the achieved production value, the share value of mercantile corn production as part of the total value of plant production, and total agricultural production. Moreover, the export potential of corn grain was analyzed through its total share of mercantile corn in the export value of agricultural, food, and overall exports. It was determined for the observed period that the surface area under corn had decreased at a rate of -1.5%, while the overall production rate recorded a rise of 5%. The results point to the average yield of corn in the Republic of Serbia growing at a faster rate than the rate at which the surface area was decreased, speaking in favor of the improvement of production technology. The average surface area under corn for the observed period was 1,176,506.2 ha, 97.5% of which was used for the production of mercantile corn. Likewise, it was determined that the value of mercantile corn production in the Republic of Serbia oscillated year-over-year for the observed period, primarily due to weather conditions and crop yields. The average value of mercantile corn production for the observed period was 995.1 million EUR. The output of mercantile corn production dictated the value of corn exports. The average share value of exported mercantile corn as part of the total value of agricultural, food, and total exports for the observed period was 2.6%, 16.1%, and 39.6%, respectively. The significance of these research results is viewed in the contribution of corn production to the general production capacity of agriculture in the Republic of Serbia, which can be used for future research, and to create future agrarian policies.