Multifunctionality of Agriculture as a Significant Factor for Sustainable Rural Development of the Republic of Serbia

Abstract

Abstract The need for a modern agricultural development conditioned the concept of multifunctionality of agriculture. Multifunctionality of agriculture is often considered as a useful tool for achieving economic and sustainable development goals. It is increasingly gaining importance in the field of sustainable rural development by linking traditional and contemporary agricultural functions. Namely, sustainability of development requires food for people, but also other positive social, ecological and economic effects. The aim of this paper is to identify the most important indicators of agriculture from the point of multifunctionality of agriculture as a factor for sustainable rural development of the Republic of Serbia, and also compare rural indicators of the Western Balkan countries. The multivariate linear regression in the paper showed that more indicators of agriculture have impact on economy than on sustainable development of the Republic of Serbia, with particularly significance of rural population and its activity. Thereby, some statistical tests showed a decrease in rural population and employment in agriculture of the Western Balkan countries. It is concluded that support to multifunctionality of agriculture is of particular importance for sustainable rural development of the Republic of Serbia.