Farmers in Serbia who cultivate land with an unsettled legal status will soon be eligible for subsidies once a new decree is passed to regulate the “actual” use of such land, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The exact deadline for the regulation’s adoption has not yet been determined, but it follows the recent passage of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development in Serbia’s Parliament. This law allows farmers to register in the Register of Agricultural Holdings (RPG) based on the “actual” use of agricultural land, supported by a special statement certified by the relevant authorities.
Farmers can be registered in the RPG through four legal bases: property rights, a decision on land consolidation, or a contract for leasing or assignment of agricultural land.
Once the regulation is finalized, which is expected by the end of 2026, agricultural producers will gain the right to apply for subsidies, purchase fuel at preferential prices, and receive excise duty refunds. Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a public call to record the “actual” cultivation of agricultural land, which ended in November 2024. A total of 38,222 applications were submitted, covering 71,249 hectares of cultivated land.
