Current status and prospects of indoor vegetable growing in the Republic of Serbia

There is a long tradition of various fresh vegetables production and consumption in the Republic of Serbia. Field production of medium late and late vegetables is well developed. The production significantly exceeds the needs of Serbian population (7,186,862 in 2011). A part of market surpluses is exported fresh, while the rest is processed by dehydration, freezing, biological fermentation, pickling and canning. For more than two centuries there has been fresh vegetables deficit from early and medium early production of thermophilous vegetable species during winter and spring. By development and advancement of vegetable production in different indoor facilities, this deficit could be compensated. Therefore, the aim was to analyse the current state and prospect of indoor vegetable production in Serbia. Results show that temporary indoor facilities for vegetable production take up larger areas in Serbia. An area of around 3,000 ha of soil mulched by plastic foils and with direct plant covering with agricultural fabric produces 120,000 t of watermelon, melon, gherkins, early potatoes and early brassicas with low and semi-high plastic tunnels. There is a slightly smaller area of permanent indoor facilities (2,421.8 ha). The most dominating are tunnel-type greenhouses (2,345.9 ha), glass greenhouses occupy 40.9 ha, and plastic greenhouses 35 ha. Total area of 2,408.8 ha produces 247,202 t of fresh vegetables, which amounts to 34.4 kg fresh vegetables produced per capita annually and 27.5% of total annual vegetable consumption per capita in the Republic of Serbia.