A joint study visit to examples of good practice on the application of support to drought adaptation measures was organized in the area of Brčko and Bijeljina on June 21, 2011 with the participation of 127 subcontractors and members of the management of six partner cooperatives namely: Brka, Brka-Brčko; Agrokoraj, Koraj; Vocar, Glumina-Zvornik; Gracanka, Gracanica; PMG VIP, Gradacas; and Prunus Zvornik. The study visit was also an opportunity for expert advisor Stevan Mesarovič to hold the 15th practical expert conference for farmers with the aim of increasing capacity in the fight against the drought.
The following places were visited:
-Orchard in Bukvik, Brčko, total area of over 65 ha of apple, cherry, plum and peach plantations. The installation of an irrigation system on an area of up to 25 ha, which combines the use of rainwater and a sub-artesian well, is underway. Stevan Mesarović, expert advisor, presented the way the irrigation system works and showed its individual elements, such as: accumulation filters, distributors and the like.
-William pear orchard in Ljenča near Bijeljina with a total of 4,100 pear trees .The orchard is one of the most modern in the Semberija area and from the very beginning it has a drip irrigation system installed, and the plowing technique has been applied to ensure the removal of excess water form the waterproof soil.
-Greenhouses near Bijeljina where peppers, carrots and other vegetables are grown. Drip irrigation is installed in all greenhouses, and in the summer months, sprinklers placed in the roof structure of the greenhouse are used to cool the crops. The Head of the Department of Economy and Agriculture of the Municipality of Bijeljina, Predrag Jović, greeted the participants of the study visit and emphasized the support provided by the Municipality of Bijeljina to the investor in the greenhouse construction project, Mladen Vasić, amounting to 40% of the total investment.
At the end of the day, a joint lunch was organized for all 127 participants of the study visit in the Ethno Village “Stanišići”.
