Belgrade, October 2013 – The Regional Development Agency of Sandžak (SEDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have launched a nine-month, $65,000 project to increase the quality, value and market position of milk and cheese products from the Pešter Highlands. 

The "Support of Cheese Production in the Sandžak Region" project is supporting dairy producers from the Pešter Highlands to improve their products' market position and to increase the value of their products.

“This project is of utmost importance to the dairy farmers and cheese producers of the Pešter Highlands," said SEDA Director Samir Kacapor.  "It is furthering the development of agriculture, one of the prime drivers of our regional economy."

The Support of Cheese Production in the Sandžak Region project has provided value chain and marketing seminars to improve local milk and cheese production and sales, and it has supported local producers' participation at the Novi Sad and Sjenica agriculture fairs.  USAID is partnering with the Czech Development Agency (CzDA) on this project.

USAID is increasing direct support to Serbian agencies and organizations like the Regional Development Agency of Sandžak as part of a broader effort to change the way USAID delivers assistance.  Direct assistance to organizations strengthens their capacity and uses USAID funds more efficiently.