The global pandemic and resulting obstacles did not stop Kosovo farmers from applying for and receiving agricultural grants to support their work. Even with restrictive measures such as curfews and social distancing, USAID through the Agriculture for Growth and Rural Opportunities activity rolled out 10 grants to Kosovo farmers during the height of the pandemic, in support of expanded value chains. The grants targeted farmers working to expand and intensify production in the following value chains: blueberries, raspberries, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), and vegetables.
With the grants, berry farmers expanded production to blueberries and installed modern irrigation systems, while new farmers of chamomile expanded their harvesting capacities through investments in new equipment, such as harvesters, dryers, and machine weeders. In addition to chamomile, another MAP farmer expanded to planting nettle, mint, and cornflower and constructed a new facility that will serve as a collection, drying, and storage center for MAPs in the area.
In total, the Kosovo Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) awarded $787,000 over the last 90 days in support of these critical export value chains. The grants awarded during the past three months have leveraged an additional $800,000 in private sector investment. Overall, new jobs created will amount to the equivalent of 357 full-time jobs and anticipated annual sales will be in excess of $1.4 million as a result of these investments.
TetraTech for USAIDKosovo