Development of small and medium enterprises in the agricultural sector in BiH (September 18, 2013 – September 17, 2016)
Project purpose: To strengthen the competitiveness of the agricultural sector in the region of Herzegovina in order to compete more efficiently in a market economy.
Expected results:
1,500 farmers from 10 municipalities in Herzegovina will strengthen their capacities to apply good agricultural practices, take drought adaptation measures and introduce new crops in order to increase the diversity of agricultural production.
425 people (farmers, unemployed youth and women from rural areas) will undergo practical training in modern agricultural practices and will be involved in internship and volunteering programs.
Project partners: Faculty of Agro-Mediterranean, University “Džemal Bijedić” Mostar and Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology, University of Mostar; Tuzla Development and Support Center, as well as other organizations previously funded by USAID; USAID-Sida FARMA project and other public and private partners (educational institutions, employers, NGOs, municipalities and government institutions responsible for agriculture and employment).
USAID Project Funding: $ 887,624, Participation: $ 111,881, Total Project Costs: $ 999,505.
Objective 1: Assessment of current opportunities and challenges in the agricultural sector of Herzegovina.
A study of the sensitivity of fruits and vegetables to climate change in Herzegovina prepared and divided into 500 copies.
Study of educational and employment opportunities in the agricultural sector in Herzegovina prepared and divided into 500 copies.
Inventory of agricultural land in the region of Herzegovina made and divided into 1000 copies.
Inventory of processing and other infrastructure capacities in agriculture made and divided into 1000 copies.
Goal 2: Improve the competitiveness and capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises and farmers through intensive capacity development programs.
An Agricultural Center for Professional Development was established, consisting of a Training Center, a Mobile Agricultural Advisory Service and an experimental / experimental plot.
1500 farmers advised on the site of their own production.
100 farmers received seedlings and additional support at the place of their own production.
60 unemployed people were trained to start their own business in agriculture, and 10 new micro-businesses were started.
10 hectares of land cultivated.
20 SMEs and farmers applied HACCP and GLOBALGAP standards.
100 unemployed women and youth underwent dedicated agricultural training including practical work, and 75 unemployed women and youth underwent soft-skills training.
Objective 3: Establish a partnership with the public and private sectors to develop and maintain training programs, including gaining practical work experience for women and youth from rural areas.
15 signed memoranda of cooperation with Secondary Agricultural / Agronomic Schools and Faculties, as well as with other public institutions and private entities.
100 students and 50 high school students volunteered at the SME and on the experimental plot, and the produced fruits and vegetables were donated to public institutions.
30 students did internships in local companies.
An annual assessment of the needs of the workforce in SMEs in Herzegovina has been made, and the basic shortcomings have been overcome through the development of trainings and capacity building programs.
