ABOUT EUR 11 MILLION MORE FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND AGRICULTURE

BANJA LUKA, JULY 15 /SRNA/ - An additional approximately EUR 11 million will be invested in water supply systems, rural roads, small bridges and irrigation systems in Republika Srpska through additional financing for the Rural Entrepreneurship and Agriculture Development Project until 2031, Republika Srpska Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Anđelka Kuzmić said in a statement to SRNA.

Kuzmić said the funds will also be invested in facilities for the storage, cooling and packaging of agricultural products, youth employment the distribution of start-up packages, support for business plans and other activities.

"Through the continuation of the project, we plan to employ another 140 trainees," Kuzmić said, reminding that 48 young trainees had been employed under the project during its implementation between 2021 and 2025.

She said the National Assembly of Republika Srpska had approved Republika Srpska's borrowing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development /IFAD/ in the amount of EUR 5,520,000, while the Republika Srpska Government will provide EUR 1,727,000, with additional funding to come from local communities and beneficiaries.

"The continuation of the project will cover 8,655 direct beneficiaries across the entire territory of Republika Srpska," Kuzmić said.

She stressed that this model of support provides direct benefits for small rural households, young people, women in rural areas, cooperatives, clusters, local communities and the rural economy as a whole.

"The new project financing will ensure the continuity of investment in rural development, improvement of agricultural production and the economic empowerment of the population in rural areas of Republika Srpska," Kuzmić stressed.

According to her, the project's focus will remain on developing promising value chains linking small agricultural producers, as well as on expanding contract farming.

She reminded that, through the co-financing of start-up packages, agricultural production had been launched in 3,400 rural households, with BAM 11.6 million invested, while 35 young agro-entrepreneurs had received equipment worth up to BAM 10,000 to start their businesses.

"A total of BAM 2.5 million has been invested in infrastructure projects, including the paving of rural roads, construction of water supply systems, rehabilitation of agricultural storage facilities, construction of a distribution and training facility, a green market and a bridge," Kuzmić noted.

Between 2021 and 2026, the project received EUR 4.5 million in IFAD funding and BAM 817,000 from the Republika Srpska Government.

The project covered 3,400 direct beneficiaries in 60 local communities.