Determinants of family farms in the regions of Serbia

The paper analyses family farms as important subjects in agricultural production in the region of Sumadija and Western Serbia, Eastern and Southern Serbia and the region of Belgrade, where 76% of the total number of family farms in Serbia are situated. Most family farms have a mixed production. The survey comprised 516 family farms in these three regions. The authors used different methods, including questionnaires, analyses, syntheses and deduction. Moreover, the authors used the publications issued by the Serbian Statistical Office and the data from the Census of Agriculture 2012. Family farms are main agricultural producers in these regions. In general, farmers have a rather low level of agricultural and financial knowledge. These regions comprised 92% family farms with fruit production and 88% with livestock production. The research has shown that surveyed farms are larger, have bigger production capacities and better infrastructure, as well as an additional source of income, when compared to most farms in these regions. Hence, the surveyed farms can serve as a representative sample. Family farms are important subjects in agricultural production. They base their income on diversified agricultural production and specialisation of certain farm enterprises. The differences between the regions are quite expressed. Family farms have not fully achieved their potential. A better coordination of the Agricultural Advisory Service and farms is necessary to improve agricultural production and achieve better results.