An analysis of the diet of the population in the Republic of Serbia

作者：Dukicin Smiljana B; Milankovic Jelena J; Ivkov Dzigurski Andelija C; Stojanovic Vladimir M^*

来源：Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment, 2012, 10(1): 52-57.

• The Republic of Serbia
• the AP Vojvodina
• Central Serbia
• diet
• urban population
• rural population
• agriculture
• foodstuff

This paper reports on the basic characteristics of agricultural activity in the Republic of Serbia, which to a great extent determines the diet of the population of the country. Fertile soil and suitable climate provide conditions for the development of rural areas, both by farming and by animal breeding. The amount of cultivable soil in Serbia is higher than the European average (0.56 hectares per capita). The northern province of the Republic of Serbia Vojvodina, which stands for the great granary of Serbia, has the potential to produce so much as to also export to other European countries, while animal breeding is more developed in the southern part of Serbia. This paper also identifies the key-properties of the main agricultural products of this country which are more relevant for the nutrition of the population. The empirical part of the paper deals with the analysis of the results of a survey carried out in the 10 largest towns of Serbia (5 in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, and 5 in Central Serbia). The survey involved 200 inhabitants in Serbia, of different socio-demographic structures. It was a random sample survey. There was observed 20 subjects in each town. The results reveal the foodstuff which is mainly used by the population of Serbia, what kinds of meat and dairy products are the most common options and how important bread and other grain products are. Significant indicators in this paper are that the inhabitants in Vojvodina (a flat area) opt for quite different foods in their diet from those that are consumed by the population in the southern part of the country which has mountainous conditions for agriculture. One part of this paper is refers to analyses showing to which extent to which different socio-demographic structures of the country (gender, age, religion, education) affect the selection of food. Equally important are the analyses which confirm that the population in Vojvodina, which is multi-confessional, decided on different foods compared with the population in the southern part of the Republic, which is more homogeneous in terms of relegion. The paper represents a complex survey and analysis of the diet of the population in Serbia determined by numerous natural and demographic conditions, whilst also demonstrating the importance of agriculture for this country.

• 出版日期2012-1