Production and economic analysis of pepper in the Republic of Serbia

Pepper is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world. This article analyzes the economics of pepper production in the Republic of Serbia, based on a family farm located in the South Banat region, covering an area of 1 ha. In open-field production, all necessary agrotechnical measures are applied, including drip irrigation. Given that the market placement of pepper is secured, the objective is to assess the economic justification of pepper production, which represents the main source of income for a five-member household. A yield of 50 t/ha was achieved. The calculation determined revenues from the sale of pepper amounting to EUR 40,492.73/ha, variable production costs of EUR 14,784.84/ha, and a coverage margin of EUR 25,707.89/ha. The economic efficiency coefficient of pepper production is 2.74. Based on the established parameters for one production cycle, the research results show that this type of production is economically justified, providing a stable source of income for growers in the long term.