Serbian agricultural robot receives prestigious award

Serbian agricultural robot “AgAR” awarded in Poland

The Serbian IT company COMING was awarded at the 30^th International Agricultural Fair “Agrotech” in Kielce, Poland, where it presented a robot for agricultural work. The AgAR robot integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning and can perform various tasks, including plowing, planting, spraying, irrigation, and fruit picking. Each of the robot's wheels can be positioned independently, allowing it to navigate steep and uneven terrain.

AgAR is a fully electric platform designed to eliminate harmful gas emissions. The development of the AgAR robot is the result of a successful collaboration between COMING and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nis reports Agroklub.

Serbia strong in fruit production

Stone fruit varieties account for more than 50% of Serbia's orchard land, with plums occupying two-thirds of that area—making Serbia one of Europe's leading plum producers as of 2022. According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS), orchards covered a total of 196.129 hectares in 2023, with the largest fruit areas concentrated in the Sumadija and Western Serbia region, while the smallest were in the Belgrade region.

In 2022, plum orchards spanned 72.323 hectares, ranking Serbia first in Europe, followed by Romania with 66.710 hectares and Russia with 49.128 hectares. In terms of apple production, Serbia harvested 486.215 tons in 2022, placing it 11^th in Europe. Sour cherries covered 19.878 hectares, making Serbia the continent’s third-largest producer of this fruit. The four-year average sour cherry production stands at 157.792 tons, trailing only plums and apples among Serbia’s top fruit crops. Meanwhile, cherries are cultivated on approximately 7.039 hectares. For pear production, Serbia ranked sixth in Europe in 2022, with 5.011 hectares under cultivation. Although quince is in high demand for brandy production, it remains relatively scarce in Serbian orchards, covering just 2.040 hectares. Peach cultivation is also limited, with a total of 7.079 hectares, while apricots are grown on roughly 6.092 hectares, placing Serbia sixth in Europe for apricot production. Berry fruits covered 39.853 hectares in 2023, representing 19.6% of the total orchard area. Raspberries remain Serbia’s top fruit export, generating 280.2 million EUR in 2023. Blueberries have seen the most significant growth over the past decade in both cultivated area and production, with exports reaching 31.5 million EUR in 2023. By contrast, the production of other berry fruits—primarily blackcurrants, redcurrants, and aronia — remains minimal, occupying just 639 hectares.

Results and perspectives of agricultural census presented

The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has organized the conference "2023 Agricultural Census - Results and Perspectives" at the end of March 2025.  The aim of the conference was to present the final results of 2023 Agricultural Census through the promotion of six special publications based on these results. As reported by the EU for You portal, the conference emphasized the significance of the obtained results in monitoring the state of agriculture, assessing agricultural policy, and planning future strategies. The discussion featured authors of specialized publications alongside representatives from international and national institutions.

The report Structural changes in agriculture and their impact on economic growth shows that over the past decade, more than 380.000 people have left rural areas in Serbia, underscoring a deepening demographic crisis in the country's villages. The report highlights that between 2001 and 2023, contribution of agriculture and the agri-food industry to Serbia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been minimal. While the average GDP growth rate during this period was 3.2%, agriculture contributed just 0.11 percentage points, and the agri-food industry 0.08 percentage points. On average, agriculture accounted for 6.21% of GDP, while the agri-food sector contributed 3.8%. A comparative analysis of agricultural economic accounts across transitional economies in 2023 found that Serbia and Romania had the highest shares of agriculture in GDP—4% and 3%, respectively. However, Serbia’s agricultural production value remains only half that of Denmark, and its agricultural services are four times lower.

The demographic data reveals that between 2002 and 2022, Serbia’s rural population declined at twice the rate of the overall population. While the country’s total population  shrank by 11.3%, from 7.5 million to 6.65 million, the rural population dropped by 22.8%, or 740.000 people, from 3.27 million to 2.53 million. This trend has accelerated in the past decade (2011–2022), during which the rural population declined by 13.3%—a loss of 389.000 people—compared to a 7.5% decrease in the total population. This demographic shift reflects a significant loss of agricultural labor.

Companies affected by socio-political crisis

Nearly half of the 378 companies surveyed by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) are facing direct and significant consequences from ongoing political and social unrest, as well as nationwide blockades, reported daily Politika in its Sunday edition. The most affected sectors include tourism, trade, and transportation, with nearly half of the surveyed businesses expecting further operational declines if the situation persists. According to the survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents from the livestock production sector and the associated processing industry reported negative impacts from the instability. The most common challenges include declining export revenues, reduced turnover, transportation delays, and slower communication with institutions. Similarly, a significant portion of companies in the textile industry reported adverse effects on their business. While export-oriented companies have been less affected than those focused on the domestic market, many business representatives noted a slowdown in the execution of planned investments. Investments in facilities, equipment, and transport vehicles are being postponed most frequently by businesses in the tourism sector (56%), transportation (28%), and construction industry. Despite these challenges, nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents believe the situation will soon stabilize, and they remain committed to proceeding with planned investments this year. The surveyed companies, which collectively employ 111.400 people, generate an annual revenue of 1.8 billion EUR. The survey was conducted on March 26 and 27, 2025.