The aim of this date is to point out the difficult position of women in the countryside, but also to acknowledge their important but often neglected role in agriculture.
International Day of Rural Women, October 15, is marked every year in various countries around the world. The aim of this date is to point out the difficult position of women in the countryside, but also to acknowledge their important but often neglected role in agriculture. According to the United Nations, a quarter of the world’s population is made up of rural women who work as farmers, workers and entrepreneurs. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most rural countries in Europe, with about 60 percent of the population living in rural areas. Despite the potential for growing fruits, vegetables and livestock, only six percent of the rural population in Bosnia and Herzegovina lives mostly from agriculture. Among them is the Radović family from Bratunac. Veselinka Radović and her husband Nebojša have been growing raspberries for more than 20 years. Although agriculture was not her first choice of occupation, she found satisfaction and financial security in this business. “I graduated textile high school and dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I don’t regret not realizing my youthful dream. My husband and I have always supported each other and we started working in agriculture together. Now we have a successful business,” explains Veselinka. Customers outside the borders of our country enjoy the sweet taste of raspberries grown in the fields of the Radović family. Radović family is one of the subcontractors of the successful company “Herbos nature”, which exports the purchased raspberries to the European Union market. “This job is difficult, but we do not complain because we chose it ourselves,” says Veselinka with pride, adding that thanks to the growing of raspberries, this family has provided the necessary funds for the education of children. “I would not change anything in my decision to do this job. Agriculture makes me happy because it further connects my family and for us it represents no burden. Thanks to this job, our children go to school,” adds Veselinka. Like the Radović family, a large number of households from the Tuzla Canton grow various agricultural crops and livestock. They are subcontractors of the agricultural cooperative Agropromet from Simin Han, where Jasmina Nuhanović Nedić works.
Photo: PR / Jasmina Nuhanović Nedić
For the last six years, Jasmina has been providing advice to subcontractors of this cooperative and taking care of the quality of the products they grow, as well as the entire work process. Milk, medicinal herbs, raspberries and gherkins are bought from small farmers. “I never dreamed I would do this job, but I love it. It asks for a great amount of responsibility, but it is dynamic and diverse,” explains Jasmina and adds that visits and contacts with subcontractors are her favorite part of the job. In addition to marking the International Day of Rural Women, every year on October 16, World Food Day is also marked. Women play an important role in the various businesses and processes of food production that we consume. Melisa Neimarlija found her profession in this profession. “While graduating from high school, I often wondered how products are made and what raw materials are used in their production. I was interested in what we actually eat,” explains 29-year-old Melisa, who works as a food technologist at the company Očuz in Visoko. Melisa got the opportunity to work in this company thanks to the EU4Business project, which is funded by the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany. “I made my dream come true. In every business, even this one, the most important thing is the will and desire to progress and improve. I have no regrets and I would recommend this job to everyone,” says Melisa. The company Očuz is engaged in the production and processing of meat, and Melisa is in charge of ensuring the quality of their products and high standards of the production process. She selflessly shares her success in business with her colleagues, from whom, she adds, she gained valuable knowledge about the process of producing meat products. Confirmation of the quality of work comes daily from loyal customers. “We have been contacted by customers several times this week who praised our products. It shows me that I do my job well. One day I would like to make my own product that our customers will enjoy,” says Melisa with a smile.
Photo: PR / Melissa Neimarlija
Motivated and educated workers are an important factor in successful work in the company Semko from Visoko, whose website states that employees are their “greatest value”. The company Semko has been producing and processing meat since 1968, and today it is a recognizable brand on the Bosnian market. The young and successful Lamija Karalija-Lametović has been taking care of the quality of their products for the last six years. This company recognized the knowledge and experience she gained by working in the non-governmental sector and during her studies at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food in Sarajevo, which gave Lamija the opportunity for further training. “As a young woman, I got a job in this company and I came in front of people who know this job and who live it. I learned a lot from them and I am grateful for that. Although the meat industry employs mostly men, I have never been faced with prejudices because I am a woman,” explains Lamija.
Photo: PR / Lamija Karalija Lametović
She adds that the job of a technologist is extremely appreciated, and that it is an excellent opportunity for young people who want to secure a job in which they will have the opportunity to constantly learn and improve their knowledge and experience. The potential for employment in the field of agriculture has been recognized by many women, some of whom are today successful entrepreneurs whose companies achieve significant business success beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Veselinka, Jasmina, Melisa and Lamija have found satisfaction and economic independence in their professions, which is why they do not plan to give up their jobs.
The companies from which our interviewees come are supported by grants from the EU4BUSINESS and EU4AGRI projects funded by the European Union for the development of the private sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, job creation and retention of existing jobs and recovery from the crisis caused by COVID-19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Through EU4BUSINESS, the EU enables companies, farmers and entrepreneurs to use their potentials and achieve better competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets, through financial and technical assistance. Within EU4AGRI, the EU provides support to strengthen the competitiveness of agriculture and rural development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU has allocated a total of 35m euros in grants for both projects.
The projects are implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in partnership with the Czech Development Agency (for EU4AGRI) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Labor Organization (ILO) (for EU4Business).
– Read more at: https://www.bljesak.info/gospodarstvo/pol poljoprivreda/osmisljen-novi-nacin-uzgoja-kave/362019
