Serbia Competitive Agriculture Project (SCAP)
Project to improve agri-food market linkages
Description
The Competitive Agriculture Project for Serbia was initiated to strengthen the market linkages of small- and medium-sized producers and enterprises, with three target components: improving productive and entrepreneurial capacity to increase market access; improving the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (MAFWM) to support modern agriculture; and the establishment of a project management team (PMT) within the Directorate of Agrarian Payments (DAP).
Technology
Component 2 of the project has focused primarily on gathering data through information delivery systems and an open data platform to support evidence-based policymaking and the development of the information management systems of public authorities (i.e. MAFWM). The three components make use of various technologies supporting the interactions of farmers and private stakeholders, including digital tools that support decision-making and that promote climate-smart production practices and technologies, and such innovations as solar-powered irrigation systems in support of increased productivity and sustainability. The project also envisages improvements to the information delivery systems of the MAFWM, and the development of an Agriculture Business Intelligence Information System for the better management of data.
Target
The main targets of the project have been small- and medium-sized farms, agricultural cooperatives, producer groups and SMEs, all of which can benefit from enhanced productivity, market access and financial support. The project supports the public sector, including the MAFWM through the provision of an open data platform and an information management system.
Business model
The total project cost is USD 50 million.
Impact
By July 2024, 4356 farmers had benefited from the provision of agricultural assets or services under the project, while 1280 had signed formal contracts with the beneficiaries and buyers of their products/services. The number of unique users of the integrated information system had not been reported on the World Bank website as of May 2024, nor applications to the integrated data platform of the MAFWM.
Partners
World Bank Group
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
