Vision for Better Future – Ivan Milovic and Vi-Agra Farm
Farmers and their attitudes about core of DREPR Project Mission – manure tank building and its role in the everday farm practice were one of the big uncertanities for DREPR implementation unit from the onset of project life cycle. Faced with many obstacles, including farmers traditional disbelief in the varoius sorts of Goverment institutional programs, esspecialy when it is connected with partial financial costs on their behalf, PIU team expected big problems in persuading potential project participants to be involved in such activities. But, in their suprise, farmers in Serbia recognized their benefits very quickly, and the result was more than one hundred farmers enlisted for project activities.
They understand key project mission, esspecialy its economic side which was recognized as most important investment in their healty and succseful future as individuals and as part of global Serbian agriculture bussines as well. Many of these farmers were young people deeply rooted in their family bussines on farms. They were very interested in new tecnolgies and procedures which will help them to adopt and develop modern ways in manure handling, improving their everyday bussines experience. One of these people with clear vision were Ivan Milutinovic and his Vi-Agra farm.
Vi-Agra farm is settled in Novi Sad/Vrbas project area. Based on 109ha of quolity soil, and with 217 livestock units, this farm is one of the biggest one in the DREPR Project agenda. Ivan was among first farmers which expressed interest to participate in Project, very soon after the first public annocment was published. With substantial energy and clearly understanding about key project issues, his farm became one of the demo farms and most attractive in the region. Supported by his family and friends, dynamic and energetic by his own nature, Ivan started to promote project goals among his community and various proffesional farmers associations in Serbia, Vojvodina particulary. With help from LAU engeniers and project PIU staff, on his farm is contructed a big manure tank (slurry 1200 m3 and solid manure 500 m3 for six months period), and he received additional equpment for proper manure handling. Inspite of many unexpected obstacles, particular complicated biroucratic procedures about building permits and papers, he succeded in his effrots and overcome all of this problems. Today, Vi-Agra farm can proudly serve as an exellent example of how people have to be assertive and with full confidence in the good project goals to achieve best results at the end of these actions.
In addition, Ivan Milovic succes is a good ilustration of an important part of DREPR project which was crystalized in practice: education and transfer of knowledge. Farmers like Ivan and many others took a grasp of this dimension of DREPR project. They are aware of benefits which are not only in the economic and local environmental side of Project. The stake is much bigger: their future and future of Serbian agribussines in the clean and healty global environment. This is a vision they follow. The vision for the next generations.
Unpolluted Danube Water - Clear Vision For Our Future
The Danube River Enterprise Pollution Reduction (DREPR) Project was designed in accordance with the Republic of Serbia Government ’s efforts to reduce and effectively manage their hazardous waste effluent by realigning its Waste and Water Management in accordance to the EU Water Framework Directive. DREPR aims to increase the prevalence of environmentally friendly practices among polluting enterprises in the Danube Basin of the Republic of Serbia. The Project targets nutrient pollution from livestock farms, notably pig and cattle farms, as well as nutrient discharging industries.
As the Danube is joined by a number of tributaries in Serbia , phosphates and nitrates quickly travel and build up in areas along the River, posing widespread environmental problems and health risks to adjacent communities. The National Review on SAM identified wastewaters from industrial enterprises, notably fertilizers and agro-processors as the largest source of nitrates and phosphates in SAM’s Danube Watershed. Run off from large pig farms is a major contributor to nutrient loads from SAM into the Danube and its tributaries. The Project has three main components: Regulatory Reform and Capacity Building , Investment in Nutrient Reduction, and Awareness Raising and Replicability Strategy.