USAID Provides Support for Potato Farming Modernization
in Kriva Palanka
On Wednesday, May 14, 2003, USAID Macedonia Mission Director
Dick Goldman will join with the Association of Potato Producers “Palanachki
Kompir” of Kriva Palanka Municipality, in celebration
of the Modernization of Potato Production project funded
by the United States Agency for International Development’s
(USAID’s) Community Self-Help Initiative program (CSHI).
Other participants in this event will include municipal government
members, other USAID and CSHI representatives, Kriva Palanka’s
Citizens Information Center (LGRP project), a representative
from the Agency for Development of Agriculture, local residents
from the villages involved in this project, and other members
of the international community. A ceremony will be held in
Konopnica village at the Association of Potato Producer’s
storage building, followed by a visit to the monastery “Sveti
Joakim Osogovski”, and lunch.
The Association of Potato Producers “Palanachki Kompir” initiated
this project, and the United States Agency for International
Development’s (USAID’s) Community Self-Help Initiative
program (CSHI) contributed by providing the Association of
Potato Producers with two tractors, two trailers, two machines
for digging the potatoes from the ground, one sowing machine,
one tilling machine, one machine for the calibration of potatoes
together with automatic weighing/bagging machine, plows,
a pump for spraying fertilizer, and other implements (total
cost $32,396.00).
This project answers to the local priority need for increased
employment opportunities for residents of the area. High
unemployment is the result of the inability of the main employers
- the local mines and textile factories factory - to find
markets for their products. The economic situation in the
city of Kriva Palanka and the surrounding villages is extremely
poor, and more than 4500 people are currently jobless and
without financial reserves.
Many of the residents possess land, but prior to this project,
they did not have the financial means to purchase the machines
and other equipment needed for agricultural production. This
land is ideal for potato production - it is 600-1600 meters
above sea level. In addition, potato crops can tolerate the
cold and variable climate of the region, unlike certain other
crops. This has been proven since potatoes from this region
are in great demand, and have a good market in Macedonia
and abroad.
Now, thanks to this project, the cultivation of the land
of the jobless people for the purpose of increasing and modernizing
potato production, will significantly improve the living
standard of these poor villages. The machines provided will
also be used for other activities on a contract basis, to
assists local farmers and villagers, as needed.
In addition, the market for this year’s entire crop
of potatoes from the region has already been secured through
wholesalers in Macedonia, and there is also interest from
a foreign corporation. Future plans of the Association include
buying machines for production of french fries and other
potato products.
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