EU and FAO officials delivered in Trstenik European Union assistance to 469 small-scale farms and total of 150 metric tons of animal feed as the first part from 8-million euro worth EU agricultural assistance to flood-affected Serbian farm households. Farmers in Trstenik were among the first to receive the EU assistance, as trucks carrying animal feed reached the town.
“The EU today gives a visible evidence that it delivers on its promises. During the floods the European Civil Protection Mechanism was quick to react and sent over 400 people from 13 countries to Serbia to help rescue people, deliver food to those surrounded by floods, pump out water from electric power plants, produce drinking water in dozens of municipalities. We then promised relief support and today we are here to deliver,” said Freek Janmaat, Head of Economic and European Integration Section at the EU, said at the ceremony of the official launch of the EU operations.
“I am extremely happy to be in Trstenik today to launch the third component of the ‘European Union’s Support for Flood Relief in Serbia’ project is aimed at helping individual farmers recuperate from the damages and losses their livestock production suffered during the floods in May and June this year,” Janmaat said.
According to him, the EU is currently working with the Serbian government and agencies “on an additional package of around EUR50 million which will be primarily aimed at helping Serbia improve its flood prevention systems. In the EU, we have realized that one euro invested into prevention, saves you four to seven euro in flood reconstruction. Serbia should think in this direction and in the EU it will have a solid partner in this effort.”
The EU has secured a total of EUR 8 mil for agricultural support, with which FAO, as EU partner on the project, will deliver animal feed, plant seeds, fruit and vegetable sprouts, greenhouses to small farmers in 24 municipalities worst affected by floods.
“The households are assisted to restart their orchards and crop fields, to replace destroyed agricultural equipment, repair damaged facilities; re-stock lost animals and keep the existing animals healthy and productive,” Janmaat said.
Financed by the EU and delivered in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the assistance forms part of the EU’s overall flood recovery package to Serbia valued at Euro 30 million.
FAO’s current recovery effort under the EU grant targets about 2,100 small-scale, family-operated farms in Obrenovac, Cacak, Lazarevac and Trstenik that suffered significant losses as a result of unprecedented spring flooding and landslides. Animal feed is procured within Serbia, following issuance of public tenders.
The activities are closely coordinated and implemented in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Government of Serbia Office for Reconstruction and Flood Relief and local governments.
“The overall aim of the agricultural component of EU’s EUR30 million flood relief package is to assist around 15,000 small farming households which provide life subsistence to over 30,000 people and which we hope will help them to restore the livelihoods and improve quality of life,” Janmaat said.
“As we deliver this agriculture support today, I think it is important to stress that the EU has already commenced work on reconstruction of private houses and public buildings in the worst affected municipalities. You will see more similar deliveries in the weeks and months ahead, but also a spring up of hundreds of construction sites across Serbia,” he added.
