ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION – OPINIONS AND PRACTICES OF PRODUCERS IN SERBIA

Abstract

Vegetable growing is one of the most intensive branches of agriculture, which is characterized by a high level of consumption of inputs, primarily fertilizers and pesticides. However, vegetable production can also be successfully achieved with reduced use of agrochemicals, actually in a more ecologically acceptable way. The aim of this paper was to examine the attitudes of vegetable producers in the area of eight local government units about ecologically acceptable cultivation practices for these crops. For the purpose of the research, one hundred and sixty vegetable producers were surveyed by questionnaire, and the collected data were processed in the SPSS statistical package, using the descriptive statistics method. The results showed that for 66% of farmers the priority in production is controlled and reduced application of agrochemicals in relation to high yield of vegetables, and also even 90% of producers are ready to shift from conventional to the ecologically acceptable production of vegetables, with the condition of certain benefits, meaning greater incentives for that kind of production. On the other side, direct payments and rural development measures are used by about 60% of surveyed, which may indicate that for expanding the concept of ecologically acceptable production, encompassing greater incentives from the national level, it is necessary to improve knowledge of this concept of production, as well as better applying of existing incentives.