Within the second phase of assistance for flood relief in Serbia, the European Union supports the recovery of small agricultural households, through the project implemented by UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

EUR1.5-worth Programme is aimed at small agricultural households which have been damaged during last year’s natural disasters. This is the second phase of assistance for natural disaster-stricken areas. The first phase included 30 municipalities. A total value of the Programme was EUR 30 million, out of which EUR 8 million were allocated for small farmers.

In the next 12 months, the second phase will support small farmers in Majdanpek, Negotin, Svrljig, Boljevac, Kladovo, Knjazevac and the City of Zajecar.

To allow any household which has suffered damage to apply for assistance, over the course of previous week public discussions were organised in municipalities included in the Programme. Call for applications starts on 1 December and will run until mid-December. According to the planned application processing and following the completion of tender procedures, distribution of assistance for spring sowing should start in February/March 2016 and will continue throughout the next year.

There are 23 different assistance packages for potential beneficiaries to choose from. The packages include seedlings, seeds, fertilisers, animal feed, greenhouses, beehives, agricultural equipment and tools, irrigation equipment and cattle.

So far, more than 26,000 agricultural households affected by last year’s floods have benefited from the EU Assistance Programme.