Farmers from the Gjilan region (municipalities of Novo Berde and Kamenice), together with agricultural advisors and experts, explored the demonstration plot equipped with agro-textile and drip irrigation, an approach supported by the SUNREED project, implemented by CNVP Kosovo and funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Pristina (Sida).

 

This initiative is the result of a collaborative effort with young advisors for NWFPs and MAPs, trained through the Organika Association, the expert guidance on identifying and removing harmful weeds containing alkaloids, and the identification of farmers to work with - implemented in collaboration with Organika Association and Agroprodukt shpk.

Participants in the field had the opportunity to see firsthand how agro-textile serves as an effective method for controlling plants containing harmful alkaloids (PA and TA), which have posed challenges for the export of Kosovo’s Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) and Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAPs). The agro-textile used in this plot is a specially designed agricultural fabric that suppresses unwanted plant growth while creating optimal conditions for cultivation.

During the visit, participants discussed the many benefits of this technique, including:

Initially introduced as a demonstration plot in Istog, the project has now expanded to six plots across different municipalities of Kosovo, serving as an effective model for farmers and other stakeholders.