Mid-April was the first week of harvest for many asparagus farmers in Kosovo, including first-time farmer Gentrit Bytyqi and his business partner Valentina Bajrami. These two young agronomists are full of energy and hope, despite the challenges in their first year of production. Facing restrictions in their operations due to COVID-19, Gentrit and Valentina put in the extra effort to meet the demands of the market. These USAID grantees reeled in 72 kg of fresh asparagus from one hectare of cultivated land in Fushtica, Drenas/Gllogovc. With restrictions on travel in place, Gentrit and Valentina used pre-established contacts with supermarket chains and pre-orders from traders to get their produce to market during the pandemic. Overall, the season was promising despite the challenges that the pandemic has placed on the export of goods. Kosovo farmers are making every effort to ensure their produce is available in the markets. Fresh-off-the-farm asparagus can be found at local supermarkets, such as Tregu Group, Vipros, and Ekstra Frutti.
USAIDKosovo