IMPORTANCE OF MILK PRODUCTION IN INCREASING OF COMPETETIYENESS OF SERBIAN AGRO-FOOD SECTOR

Cattle production is the most present traditional branch of agriculture in Serbia, and special consideration was given to milk production as essential ingredient for the food security of the country. After World War II, since 1949 development of dairy industry in the former Yugoslavia began. From then on, in the field of milk production and processing many changes have occurred. However, due to accession to the European Union, in the following years this sector will go trough significant changes because of harmonization with strict standards laid down in EU member states. Adoption of regulations and the compliance with the standards in the field of agriculture, agro food industry will get better quality raw material that will increase its competitiveness. The paper analyzes the current situation in milk production and standards that are needed to improve the quality of milk, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of milk production and the competitiveness of the food industry, which relies on this production.