Developing rural areas by focusing on agritourism: for this programme, the Government of Kosovo has allocated EUR 20 million, which is considered crucial for promoting the economic prosperity of the less advantaged areas while at the same time maintaining a balance between environmental and social sustainability.
The project plans for activities designed to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities of industry operators in the Serbian-majority municipalities of northern Kosovo, offering a variety of technical and financial assistance services. The goals include creating new jobs not only in farm concerns, but also in the related services, like food service and tourism.
This approach would promote local natural and cultural resources and attract visitors interested in authentic, educational experiences on the values of sustainable agriculture and the importance of biodiversity, but also on conserving the scenic and artistic heritage of the involved areas. The economic contributions to be made available, subdivided into three main categories, will range from EUR 10,000 for smaller projects, to payments of EUR 50,000 and EUR 250,000 for the more structured initiatives.
The programme is part of the “National strategy for agriculture and rural development, 2022-2028,” with which the Kosovar Government aims to make the agricultural economy more productive, sustainable, and competitive through the acquisition of skills and the adoption of modern standards and technologies. Agriculture and the processing industry account for 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employ 23% of Kosovo’s work force. The agricultural area in use (more than 420,000 hectares) is dedicated to the production of cereals (29.6%), fodder (9%), and vegetables and fruit (2.4% each), while vineyards occupy only 0.8% of the total. The remaining 55.8% of acreage consists of meadows, pasture, and shared areas.
However, the sector is grappling with certain structural challenges, such as undersized farm concerns, the dearth of irrigation infrastructures, the use of obsolete machinery, limited storage capacity, and the absence of a computerized system. The development of Kosovar agribusiness would instead require specialized training and assistance in agricultural research. In this setting, the introduction of precision technologies, monitoring systems, and automation might also help boost productivity and added value.
