ADFD advances water security across Serbian agriculture with transformative infrastructure investment
A nearly US$100 million concessional financing programme from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development is revolutionising irrigation across Serbia, bringing reliable water access to over 122,000 hectares of agricultural land and strengthening the nation's food security and rural prosperity.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has catalysed a transformative enhancement of Serbia’s agricultural infrastructure through a substantial concessional financing programme that addresses one of agriculture’s most pressing challenges: dependable access to water. The initiative, structured as a partnership between ADFD and the Government of Serbia, encompasses the development of irrigated agriculture across five regions of the country, benefiting more than 122,000 hectares of productive farmland.
The infrastructure improvements demonstrate considerable ambition in scope and sophistication. The programme encompasses the rehabilitation and enhancement of 17 irrigation canals stretching across more than 500 kilometres, accompanied by the installation and upgrade of more than 60 pumping stations that collectively deliver a water capacity exceeding 54,000 litres per second. These facilities are complemented by upgrades to dams, water control gates and associated infrastructure, creating a comprehensive system designed to serve the agricultural sector’s needs with precision and reliability.
Already, over 108,000 hectares benefit from improved irrigation, with a further 14,000 hectares currently under construction. In Čačak–Parmenac in central Serbia, a rehabilitated irrigation network now serves 380 hectares and provides water security for more than 90 farming families and users. In Vojvodina, the Kula–Mali Iđoš irrigation system possesses the capacity to irrigate up to 4,650 hectares, opening pathways for expanded agricultural production and enterprise development.
The programme addresses a contemporary challenge of mounting significance. As climate patterns become increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather events grow more frequent, dependable irrigation infrastructure has emerged as essential to agricultural resilience. By reducing reliance on rainfall volatility, the initiative enables farmers to undertake production planning with greater certainty and invest in their enterprises with enhanced confidence. The infrastructure additionally strengthens flood control capabilities, protecting agricultural land whilst supporting more stable conditions for cultivation across an extensive network spanning more than 500 kilometres of canals.
Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of ADFD, observed that water security represents the foundation upon which resilient agriculture is constructed, particularly as changing climate and rainfall patterns exert pressure on farming communities and agricultural systems. The partnership with Serbia’s Government reflects ADFD’s commitment to strengthening the infrastructure necessary to secure water for agriculture, support more reliable production and enable farmers to plan and invest with greater confidence.
Dragan Glamocic, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, emphasised that the partnership demonstrates how access to highly favourable financing enables the development of irrigation infrastructure at scale. The initiative strengthens agricultural production, supports business development and increases revenues across the nation whilst contributing fundamentally to food security and stability for Serbian citizens.
ADFD and the Government of Serbia first formalised their cooperation through a concessional financing agreement signed in 2014. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia serves as credit beneficiary, whilst PWMC Srbijavode holds responsibility for investment in the Čačak–Parmenac works. The programme exemplifies ADFD’s enduring commitment to water security as a cornerstone of agricultural development, food security and sustainable economic growth.
Source: WAM