Agriculture Assistance Supports Bosniak Community in the Zhupa Region

Thursday, July 13, 2017
Raspberries, both fresh-picked and processed into juice by members of the Agro Red Gold association in Recan near Prizren
Xheraldina Cernobregu, USAID

USAID Mission Director James Hope visited Agro Red Gold on June 28th, an association of raspberry growers and collectors of non-wood forest products (NWFP) and medical and aromatic plants (MAPs), headquartered in the village of Recane in Prizren. The association has 114 permanent members and some 300 associate members from the predominantly Bosniak minority-inhabited villages of Prizren’s Zhupa region.  USAID’s assistance to the association contributes to the improvement of the socio-economic situation among this community. The association cultivates soft fruits (mainly raspberries), collects NWFP and MAP, trades these products to domestic and foreign markets (Austria, Switzerland and Germany), and helps develop village tourism.  During the last three years the association has increased its turnover from €70,000 in 2013 to €280,000 in 2015. Currently, the association has 32 hectares of planted raspberries.  With the help of USAID’s Agriculture for Growth and Rural Opportunities project, the association plans to increase cultivation by 10 hectares, which will create jobs for 30 regular and 70 seasonal workers in this community.