PROFITABILITY OF DRIED APPLE PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

The primary objective of thе paper is to determine the level of profitability of the production of dried apples in our country. It was analyzed and evaluated the most important economic indicators drying apples with combined technology (osmotic and convective drying). The calculations are based on real technical and technological norms for consumption and the current market prices of inputs and final products. In the structure of total costs, dominated by fresh apples (62.1%) and labor costs (20.5%), while energy costs are not particularly significant (3.6%). The results show that it is a very profitable production (profit 3558 € /22 days, production efficiency 1.60; production accumulation 37.4%). Investments in the construction of mini facility for for drying fruits are not large (about 30,900 €) and are repaid for about 2 years, which is very acceptable period for this type of production. With the proper state subsidies, building mini facility for drying fruit can significantly contribute to improving the economic situation of agricultural holdings, reducing unemployment and overall development of the village