Weather-related disasters—including hail, storms and spring frosts—have become more frequent and severe in recent years, posing growing risks to agricultural producers. Fruit growers and winemakers are particularly exposed, as damage can affect not only a single harvest but long-term production capacity.
Last year again underscored those risks. In several regions of Serbia, fruit harvests were severely damaged or completely lost due to early frost and hail.
Against that backdrop, agricultural insurance has become a key instrument for stability and long-term development for producers investing significant capital in fruit and grape plantations as well as modern processing facilities. Dunav Insurance Company has identified agricultural insurance as a strategic priority within its portfolio, even though claims payments often exceed contracted premiums.
Speaking at the Agro Belgrade 2026 fair, Milo Marković, a member of the executive board of Dunav Insurance Company, said the firm’s efficient claims settlement process has helped position it among the leading providers in the market, with a 35% share of Serbia’s agricultural insurance sector.
Over the past five years, Dunav Insurance has insured approximately 30,000 hectares of fruit orchards out of Serbia’s roughly 300,000 hectares. During the same period, the company paid about three billion Serbian dinars in claims—representing nearly half of all agricultural insurance claims paid nationwide.
In viticulture, insured areas have increased moderately, though significant growth potential remains. Vineyards in Serbia currently cover about 22,000 hectares.
“The increasing investments in wine and brandy production require systematic protection that covers the entire production process,” Marković said. “Our objective is to provide producers with security, operational continuity and the ability to recover quickly—even in years when losses are significant.”
As vineyard plantations expand and wineries and distilleries modernize, producers are facing increasingly complex risk profiles. In response, Dunav Insurance has developed a specialized insurance package designed specifically for wineries and distilleries.
The package provides comprehensive protection covering orchards and vineyards, production facilities, equipment, inventory, employees, agricultural machinery and motor vehicles. Coverage includes major risks such as hail, fire, storms, spring frost, machinery breakdown, leakage, earthquakes and accidents, along with additional benefits.
According to Marković, policyholders can receive discounts of up to 20% when purchasing the package, with an additional 10% discount for paying premiums in a single installment. Producers may also defer payment until after the harvest, aligning insurance costs with agricultural production cycles.
Registered agricultural farms may also qualify for government subsidies covering between 40% and 70% of insurance premiums, significantly reducing the overall cost of coverage.
“With this package, we aim to offer producers more than an insurance policy—we offer partnership, simplified procedures, professional damage assessment and rapid claims payments so production can continue without disruption,” Marković said.
With one of the longest operating traditions in the market, a nationwide network of branches and field teams that include agricultural engineers, Dunav Insurance continues to position itself as a support system for fruit growers, vineyard operators, winemakers and distillers across Serbia.
More information about this and other insurance services is available through the Dunav Insurance Contact Center at 0800 386 286.
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