IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Montenegro-Kosovo 2014-2020 The global objective of the programme is to improve the standard and quality of living of the people in the programme area through the environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic development of the region, with respect for its common cultural and natural heritage.
From June 22-24, 2022, a three-day visit of a group of farmers from Montenegro was carried out with the aim of gaining experience in the sector of aromatic medicinal plants in Kosovo, as well as getting to know some of the beneficiaries of grants selcted for the cultivation of aromatic medicinal plants through “Creating employment in agriculture” project.
The visits were carried out in the area where the project is being implemented, namely in the municipality of Peja and Istog, where the companies that deal with the cultivation, collection, processing and export of aromatic medicinal plants were visited, such as: “AgroProduct” Shpk, “Organic Herb” Shpk , “Erblin Beqiraj” B.I., then the blueberry growing and exporting company “Boost Berries”, as well as the raspberry grower Nehat Bajraktari.
In the aforementioned companies, the group of farmers from Montenegro were informed about the history and the work of these companies, and their development from year to year, then with activities that take place in the sector of medicinal and aromatic plants and small fruits, collection capacity, cultivation and processing up to the preparation of products for export to the European market. In these companies, they also got to know some students who had done practical work through the project and are now regular employees of the companies.
Also, 3 of the 20 beneficiaries of cultivation grants were visited (Januz Binakaj, Florije Dreshaj and Violeta Balaj), from whom they were informed about the support and opportunities created for them by the project last year, and that this year they are successfully continuing the cultivation of various aromatic medicinal plants, such as: mint, cyanus, calendula, black mallow, sunflower, etc.
The group of visitors from Montenegro were impressed by the developments they saw in Kosovo in the medicinal and aromatic plants sector, and they left very satisfied and grateful for the entire organization of this visit.
This activity was made possible within the project “Creating employment in agriculture”, financed by the European Union through the IPA II Cross-border Cooperation Programme between Montenegro and Kosovo.
Source: IADK