Tradicija, zanimanje i opstanak stanovništva na brdsko-planinskom području Srbije

Hilly-mountainous regions make more than 60% territory of our country. Approximately 2 million people live in these regions what accounts for about 28% of total number of inhabitants in the Republic of Serbia. About 1,2 million inhabitants live in 53 undeveloped municipalities situated in this area what makes 17% in total number of municipalities in Serbia and they realize gross domestic product of only 30% of the country`s average. These regions number more than 200 thousand households in which 122 thousand or 19.3% of the total number of Serbia make their living by breeding cattle and sheep. Households of these regions use about 800 thousand hectares of land surface what makes 60% of total land surface in these regions or about 4 hectares per household. On this surface about 270 thousand heads of cattle and about 700 thousand heads of sheep are bred what accounts for 31%, i.e. 47% in total number of heads of cattle in the Republic of Serbia. Grasslands in this region are neglected, yield of grass mass per 1 hectare of land is low (1800 kg of hay), number of cattle and sheep, the animals traditionally bred here and a traditional occupation of rural inhabitants, is decreasing every year, while people are leaving their old villages. In one word, surrounded by natural wealth people live in poverty. Because of this it is crucial to make a new strategy of development of these regions that should be maximally supported by the government and adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. By an organized utilization of grasslands, as well as by an organized production of cattle and sheep in these regions it would be possible to raise more than 500 thousand heads of cattle including 250-300 thousand cows in reproduction and 150 thousand fattening bull-calves, to realize milk production for market in the amount of about 250 million kg, as well as 2,5 – 3 million sheep in reproduction, 2,5 million lambs for market and about 60 million kg of meat or about 13 million kg of sheep cheese. This number of bred animals could make income of more than 74 billion dinars or over 6 million euros annually, i.e. the value of production amounting to 12 million dinars per capita engaged in raising cattle and sheep in an organized – sustainable production, and to export products (young bulls, lambs, cheese) in the value amounting to about 433 million euros or 12 375 euros per capita living in hilly-mountainous regions.