Rural Development
Rural Development was formed as an answer to the problems concerning the inconsistencies in the level of economic development within one region but also between different regions of one territory. Rural development is often regarded as s synonym for agricultural development. However, rural development represents complex socio-economic development that includes solving problems in the field of agriculture, industry, employability, infrastructure, tourism, health care, education, environment protection. It can be said that rural development should represent one of the important segments of each regional policy with its specific policies and objectives.
In 2008 Regional Rural Center Kragujevac (RRC Kragujevac) was formed within the Regional Economic Development Agency for Šumadija and Pomoravlje (REDASP) through the project “Building the support system for rural development” initiated by The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. Forming the RRC Kragujevac enabled the further work on started activities within REDASP concerning support for the municipalities of Šumadija and Pomoravlje in the process of socio-economic development, where rural development was one of the priorities.
Network of district centers of RRC Kragujevac was initially made of 10 municipalities of Šumadija and Pomoravlje region. Through initiation of the project “Building the support system for rural development 2009” and further progress of RRC Kragujevac the network expanded to 12 municipalities in the region (Kragujevac, Jagodina, Aranđelovac, Paraćin, Ćuprija, Despotovac, Svilajnac, Topola, Rekovac, Rača, Batočina and Lapovo). Institutional strengthening through forming RRC Kragujevac and expanding the network of district centers in 2009 created conditions for active support for all interested parties in using the funds provided by The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and other donators.
Activities performed by Regional Rural Center Kragujevac with the support of coordinators from rural development offices in mentioned municipalities deal with timely presentation of the strategy, programme of measures, activities of the Ministry of Agriculture to the agricultural producers, stimulation of local initiatives to improve production and quality of life in rural areas, provide support for agricultural producers in preparation and implementation of rural development projects as well as providing technical support during the application for the funds from agrarian budget of the Republic of Serbia. One of the very important activities is organizing education of rural population in the various fields of rural economy that match the realistic needs of agricultural producers with the aim to promote their agricultural products Promotion of rural capacities and traditional values of the region Šumadija and Pomoravlje is another important activity that Regional Rural Center Kragujevac performs through organizing various fairs and rural manifestations.