prijava
SARAJEVO, June 13 (FENA) - Director-General for International Development Cooperation at the Swedish Foreign Ministry, Johannes Oljelund, during his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, met with agricultural producers and discussed the implementation of the support project by the Kingdom of Sweden through the partner USAID/Sweden “Fostering Agricultural Markets Activity II” (FARMA II).
Oljelund visited ‘Herbos Natura’ company in Hrasnica. It is a company that deals with the purchase and processing of medicinal herbs, mushrooms and raspberries, with a focus on cooperation with local subcontractors in the region of Central and Eastern Bosnia.
The company collaborates with more than a thousand cooperators, and all the purchases are exported to the countries of the European Union and Switzerland.
USAID/Sweden FARMA II Project supported this company through the co-financing of the freezing tunnel, enabled their participation at an international fair in Europe, and with other means of technical assistance supported the development of the company’s capacities.
Oljelund said that Sweden remains committed to supporting the development of agriculture in BiH, and that it seeks to ensure that local producers are competitive on the European market, that they improve their capacities and production technologies, while, at the same time, ensuring rural development and boosting greater involvement of women in entrepreneurship.
“It is a great pleasure for me to be in Hrasnica and Visoko today and to have a chance to see concrete examples of cooperation and support for local development that contributes to the creation of new jobs while also sending out positive messages,” said Oljelund.
During the visit to the BIOS cooperative in Visoko, Oljelund had the opportunity to learn more about investments in the production of greenhouses and irrigation systems, but also about the challenges of establishing chicken farms in Srebrenica, also supported by the purchase of solar panels and working equipment.
In addition to increasing energy efficiency, this support has enabled better productivity of the company itself.
“The BIOS Cooperative has provided support to many local producers and farmers, and each year, it is expanding its activities by opening new jobs both here in Visoko and other communities. Agriculture can be a cornerstone of economic development and the source of new jobs,” concluded Oljelund.
The USAID/Sweden FARMA II project continues supporting agricultural producers in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it cooperates with domestic institutions to implement reforms of the existing legislation that will facilitate the work of agricultural producers and provide them easier access to European markets.
(FENA) S. R.
