U.S. Supports Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture in Croatia
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Public Affairs Section
Zagreb, Croatia
U.S. Supports Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture in Croatia
ZAGREB, MAY 12, 2006 - The United States government, through the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), is supporting small family farms in Osječko-Baranjska County to develop new agricultural products. Since 2004, USAID has given significant technical assistance in to improve cultivation practices for production of organic blackberries to Agricultural Cooperative Cerine in Topolje. The cooperative has received organic farm certification by the Austrian certification body ABG, and this year they are planning to apply for EU and US organic certification of the farm and its products.
On May 12, the cooperative will start operation of a new dryer that was purchased with USAID assistance. This new equipment will be used to dry a variety of medicinal herbs produced by the cooperative and small farmers in this area. The new dryer will increase the cooperatives capacity to harvest, dry, and separate medicinal plant products and increase the quality and quantity of those products, generating additional income for the farmers. Plant residues from the drying process will then be used as a natural fertilizer and for organic pest management for blackberry production, allowing the cooperative and local farmers to further expand production and increase producer incomes.
USAID is supporting the development of environmentally sustainable agriculture in Croatia and helping to improve incomes for small family farms in economically disadvantaged areas of the country.
USAID is the primary assistance organization of the United States Government. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $407 million to Croatia (much of it through USAID programs) to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in postwar reconstruction and the return of refugees, to support de-mining and economic development, and to provide educational and training opportunities. The U.S. has also provided guidance and support to the Croatian judicial and military sectors to further Croatia's integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.