After five years of coordinated efforts, Serbia’s agricultural sector is now better equipped to manage climate risks. The project Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Agriculture, funded by the European Union and implemented from March 2021 to January 2026, integrated climate resilience across agricultural policies, institutions, and farming practices, reinforcing the sector from national strategies down to the field level.
Implemented by FAO in close collaboration with Serbia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the project strengthened policy tools, improved institutional coordination, and expanded hands-on support for municipalities, advisers, and farmers. This approach enabled earlier risk anticipation, reduced losses, and accelerated recovery during climate-related shocks. Dragan Glamočić, Serbia’s Minister of Agriculture, noted that the initiative aimed to build capacities at all levels to secure a climate-resilient agricultural sector.
By the project’s conclusion, most targets were exceeded, helping Serbia move toward a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system aligned with European Union frameworks. EU Ambassador Andreas von Beckerath highlighted that the project had measurably enhanced the country’s ability to respond to natural hazards while maintaining rural livelihoods. FAO Deputy Regional Representative Nabil Gangi emphasized that the foundations laid by the project provide a platform for scaling successful approaches, improving coordination, and mobilizing investments.
At the national level, the project helped integrate disaster risk management and climate-smart agriculture into key policy frameworks, including the National Programme for Rural Development, the National Climate Change Adaptation Programme, and the EU IPARD III programme. An interdepartmental Climate Change Working Group was established, bringing together 13 units from the ministry and other institutions to improve coordination, share information, and enable coherent responses to climate and disaster risks. Over 80 ministry staff strengthened their technical capacities in areas such as climate change, soil health, disaster risk management, and EU policy frameworks.
Locally, the project supported 23 climate-vulnerable municipalities through participatory assessments, training, and hands-on technical assistance. Twelve municipalities introduced climate-smart measures into local support schemes, and municipal staff enhanced their ability to monitor agricultural damages and subsidies using new data management tools. In Kraljevo, a local disaster risk reduction plan was developed with a focus on agriculture and vulnerable populations, marking a shift from reactive response to proactive risk reduction.
Agricultural advisers played a pivotal role in translating policy into practice. Over 400 advisers, nearly half of them women, participated in learning programs combining classroom instruction, field demonstrations, and online courses covering climate impacts, soil management, irrigation, renewable energy, and agricultural insurance. Practical learning in demonstration fields, orchards, and vineyards showcased over 35 climate-smart practices, reaching more than 1,600 farmers and fostering adoption of innovative, resilient methods.
The project also invested in future generations by introducing an elective subject on climate change in agriculture in 12 secondary agricultural schools, reaching over 300 students and teachers. The course emphasized interactive, practice-oriented learning on climate risks, mitigation, and adaptation measures, equipping students with the skills needed for resilient agricultural practices.
By linking national policies with local actions, empowering advisers and farmers, and investing in youth and women, the project created a foundation for a climate-resilient agricultural sector in Serbia. The project formally concluded on 31 January 2026, bringing together over 150 representatives from institutions, advisory services, farmers’ organizations, academia, and international partners, leaving behind a strong platform for scaling resilient agricultural solutions across the country.
