Event

AGRICULTURE, ECOLOGY AND RURAL TOURISM FAIR ”KOLUBARAFEST” IN LAZAREVAC, FOR THE THIRD TIME
Discovering New Potentials
This year’s event will be organized from April 16 to 18, it remains international and invitational, and there is no entrance fee for visitors. It will host about 60 exhibitors from Serbia and the region. For the first time, it will include programs in the open, which will enable manufacturers of agricultural mechanization, greenhouses, irrigation systems, to present themselves. ”The fair is very important for the affirmation of our agricultural potentials”, says Branko Borić, president of this Belgrade municipality

By: Nenad Despotović

Helping experts and agricultural producers from the region to exchange experiences, broaden their knowledge and promote their work – that is the main idea of ”Kolubarafest”. The organizers of this well thought through, useful and attractive event are, for the third time in a row, the Belgrade municipality of Lazarevac and the ”Kolubara” Surface Coal Mine Basin.
Already the first ”Kolubarafest” held in 2008 was international. Among others, there were exhibitors from Bijeljina (Srpska) and the Istra County (Croatia). The following year, actually the previous year, 2009, the Fair preserved its international character, but the number of exhibitors increased to 45. More than 6.000 people visited the fair programs, events and exhibitions.
– Because of production of coal and electricity, people generally think that Lazarevac is mainly an industrial municipality. However, very important, although neglected for decades, is our agricultural potential in the recultivated areas of the ”Kolubara” Mine Basin, as well as other, mostly southern parts of the municipality, untouched by the negative influences on the environment – says Branko Borić, president of the City Municipality of Lazarevac for National Review. – Therefore, although it is not within our direct jurisdiction, we make a big effort to support agriculture, to initiate various programs for the development of cattle breeding, fruit growing, apiculture…
The last year’s gathering at ”Kolubarafest” was also enriched with a mini fair of Serbian wines, apparently the first such in Serbia, which gave the event special significance.

CONFIRMATION OF VALUE AND ABILITY

– The fair confirmed we have young, hardworking and capable producers who deserve such an event, where they are able to, so to say at home, present themselves appropriately, make good business contacts and exchange experiences with exhibitors from the surrounding areas and guests from abroad – adds president Borić. – We realize that farmers today work under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, so we attempt to make contacts with institutes and competent institutions, and, using the enterprising spirit of our Municipality, help in resolving difficulties, especially by providing means for subventions from appropriate funds.
This year, in 2010, the ”Kolubarafest” fair will be organized from April 16 to 18. It will host about 60 exhibitors from the region. Among Serbian exhibitors, besides those from Lazarevac, producers from neighboring municipalities of Ljig, Lajkovac, Obrenovac, Ub and Topola announced special presentations. Exhibitors from Bijeljina, Bratunac and Istra will be our guests this year too. For the first time, there will be programs in the open, which will enable presenting manufacturers of agricultural mechanization, greenhouses, irrigation systems...
– This fair is a very important contribution not only for preserving the traditional values of our people and healthy environment, but also for the economic development of Lazarevac, as well as the whole region, I would say, as well as for making this area economically attractive – concludes president Borić.
Deputy President of the Lazarevac municipality Aleksandar Dražić says:
– ”Kolubarafest” is very important for presenting the municipality of Lazarevac, especially its agricultural producers. Until three years ago, they did not have a chance to exhibit their products, potentials and resources in their municipality. The organizational board made sure that the preparations go as they were designed, so we expect everything to be on a high level.
This year too, ”Kolubarafest” remains invitational, and there will not be any entrance fee for the visitors.

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Wine
– During the previous few years, the Municipality of Lazarevac has been supporting the restoration of our vineyards dug out long ago, before all in Zeoke – adds President Branko Borić. – As a result of these efforts, and I am proud to emphasize this, in November last year, in the year of general crisis, we organized the Festival of Serbian Wines for the first time, with 37 exhibitors from all over Serbia. The slogan of the event was: ”It is time for wine, let’s drink local wine!” It turned out to be a great stimulus for our winegrowers and vintners.

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Restoration         
– I come from a rural area of our Municipality, from the village of Sakulja, which disappeared from maps a long time ago due to the spreading of the mine – says Milan Ivković, president of the Lazarevac Municipality Assembly for National Review. – However, I remember how beautiful my village and other villages around were in my childhood, with a clean environment, healthy food, hardworking people. We want to return as much as we of that to our Municipality, because we have a good tradition, and this fair is a great stimulus for such aspirations.