Rubus and Ribes industry in Serbia as a production model for developing countries

For many years, Serbia is among the leading producers of raspberries and blackberries in the world. The production of currants is at obscure low level, and this fruit is constantly imported. In 2009, 86,500 tons of raspberries and around 12,000 tons of blackberries were produced. A similar production level was maintained in the year 2010. Raspberry production is concentrated in the western and southwestern parts of Serbia at the properties of farmers (about 60,000 households) with an average area of about 0.25 ha. Blackberries are grown on about 5,000 ha by about 15,000 producers distributed mainly in central, northwestern and eastern Serbia. Currants are very few, only 100 hectares mainly in western and central Serbia. Despite many problems, over the last decade from the variation of the agrometeorological factors to unstable markets and prices, the production survives and makes a relatively high profit, particularly on raspberries. Factors that determine this are great flexibility of producers and many advantages of such a fragmented production. Low-cost investments without many inputs: only the planting material and part of means of support; Developed necessary infrastructure of roads, cold storages, buying places, etc; Quick return on investment – but in the second year; Involvement of unemployed family members in maintenance of the soil and harvest is substantial and particularly significant. This way the producers provide a cheaper product and higher incomes; Easier put up with the economic impact in the periods of lower prices and more difficult purchase price and hard sells. Small producers bear easier the reduction in yield or no yield in some years. The production is followed by numerous problems that affect the yield and the quality. Farmers largely rely on AAES (Agricultural Advisory and Expert Service) at bigger centers in Serbia. Because of their low presence and large indentation of the region, control and consultation of producers is hard to manage. Therefore, numerous errors in practice occur, as follows: selection of appropriate terrains for new plantations, determination of soil quality and its proper preparation necessary for good development of these species, the selection of low-quality planting material, followed by inadequate nutrition in productive period, poor production and irregular harvest. To maintain current production levels while improving the quality required for the expansion and survival in present markets, the following steps should be implemented: Quality use of cultural practices including harvest; Organizing an advisory service; Diversification of products through several processing stages (drying, juices, concentrates, purees, etc.) and creation of new products; Improvement of domestic as well as foreign marketing to educate consumers on the benefits of these fruits consumption; Incentive funds should be provided according to the zoning made.