Municipality Novo Varoš from Serbia is interested in establishing inter-regional cooperation with municipality Hadžići in a project of the production and processing of buckwheat, which would be financed by the EU with 250.000 euros.
People from Novo Varoš, accompanied by prof. dr. Nezir Tanović, visited the center for BiH production and processing of buckwheat, the organic company Heljda eko Raštelica.
“First of all, I want to thank you for the extraordinary hospitality from the Director of Eco Heljda and from the leadership of municipality Hadžići. We quickly found a common language and I hope that this concrete project of inter-regional cooperation will be the first step in a stronger progress of our local communities. The project of production and processing of buckwheat in this case is worth 250.000 euros and financed by IPA funds’’, said Dimitrije Paunović, Mayor of Novo Varoš.
“The project of inter-regional cooperation would begin production and processing of buckwheat. This would lead to a chain reaction of building additional infrastructure to tourist attractions. A large number of people would be included in the project from the area of this municipality, above all people from villages. As a profession, we are willing to cooperation with municipality Novo Varoš and the leadership of the municipality of Hadžići, which is also warmly recommended. We should not forget that Hadžići is known for buckwheat and this chance should be used’’, said Tanović.
Senad Čolić, IPA Project Manager, said that Hadžići and Raštelica are leaders in the production of buckwheat in BiH. “Here is where the production and processing of this highly demanded product in Europe began. In this respect, Hadžići has become a brand and this fact gives it huge possibilities. This year, the demand for buckwheat is such that our production line cannot meet demand. If we realize this project, production would triple’’, said Čolić.
Samir Mehonić, Director of the Organic Farm Heljda eko Raštelica, said that the potential of these two municipalities when it comes to production and processing of buckwheat goes far beyond the initial funding from the EU of 250.000 euros. “I am thinking about multi-million dollar amounts. Senad already said that the demand is far greater than what we currently produce, and we have to keep in mind that buckwheat as a finished product is mainly exported to foreign markets. Currently Heljda eko has 10 employees and this project would increase that number 20’’, said Mehonić.
The Mayor of Hadžići, Hamdo Ejubović, gave full support to the project, pointing out that both local communities have to have equal benefit from the project.
(Source: E-Kapija)
