Mr. Allan Reed, Director of the USAID Mission to BiH, attended on October 21, 2011. year to promote the project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), entitled “Capacity Building of Agricultural Businesses in Drought Adaptation.” On this occasion, Mr. Reed ceremoniously put into operation a demonstration irrigation system that was installed in the area of the municipality of Gracanica. The aim of this project is to contribute to strengthening the capacity of the fruit and vegetable production sector in BiH and the area of drought adaptation that occurs as a result of global climate change. The project includes strengthening agricultural cooperatives and their farmers in managing drought adaptation measures, as well as strengthening the capacity of line ministries. The total value of the project is $350,000 of which USAID is funding $ 306, 364. The project is implemented by the Center for Development and Support (CRP) from Tuzla and the Association of Citizens “Nešto Više”.
The experimental irrigation system that was put into operation on this occasion is one of a total of six experimental irrigation systems installed in the area of Northeast BiH within the project, and will be used for practical training of agricultural producers on drought adaptation.
In addition to Mr. Reed, the present guests and the media were addressed by CRP representatives: Alenka Savić, Darko Ivanić and Almir Zulić; representative of the Association Nešto Više Velibor Sudar; Mayor of the Municipality of Gracanica Nusret Helic, as well as a representative of the agricultural cooperative Agrokoraj from Koraj, Zijad Smajic, on behalf of the project beneficiaries.
