ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN THE FUNCTION OF REDUCING RURAL POVERTY - THE EXAMPLE OF VELEBIT VILLAGE IN THE A. P. OF VOJVODINA

Ljubica Komazec and Marko Aleksic

Faculty of Economics in Subotica - University of Novi Sad, Subotica, The Republic of Serbia

Disturbing media pictures of the deterioration and disappearance of villages in almost all parts of the Republic of Serbia (RS), as a consequence of insufficient progress in the implementation of the paradigm of the rural way of life, desirable and necessary for any community and any economy, are an alarming call to every subject of the society to do whatever they are entitled to and capable of to stop these unfavorable processes. The potentials of a small rural community in RS to survive and develop for its own benefit and for the benefit of the society as a whole have studied in this article. Bearing in mind the fact that relevant social documents have their significance and role in all social processes, but are not a sufficient precondition for their improvement, the authors surveyed and interviewed the local population in the Velebit village about their attitudes, potentials, needs and limitations regarding the establishment of and their permanent involvement in organic agricultural production necessary for the village to survive and improve its economic and social position. The research results show that the inhabitants of the village of Velebit are interested in remaining in the countryside and setting up organic agricultural production, but they need assistance, both advisory and financial, as they lack sufficient capacities for it.

Keywords: organic production, poverty rate, rural environments, sustainable development

JEL Classification: Q01, Q18, Q58