On April 28-30, 2009, over fifty agriculture companies and food producers will exhibit their products at the 4th International Agriculture Fair in Bujanovac.
The fair is organized under the auspices of the municipality of Bujanovac, in cooperation with the Presevo and Bujanovac Development Agency (PBDA) and USAID’s Economic Security program which is supporting the organization of this fair with $18,500. Mr. Shaip Kamberi, Mayor of Bujanovac municipality and Mr. Art Flanagan, USAID Senior Advisor, will open the fair. Mr. Michael Pillsbury, USAID’s Economic Security Program Director and a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management will also address the public.
The purpose of the fair is to promote the economic potentials of agricultural products from the region, by creating and fostering new business linkages and by strengthening the cooperation between local, regional and international agricultural producers and sellers. As the region is primarily oriented around agricultural production, the Fair offers an excellent networking opportunity for agricultural businesses to promote their products and expand their value propositions to larger regional and international markets. USAID is supporting the fair through the provision of marketing materials and promotional activities, as well as organizational costs and on-site training seminars for local farmers and agriculture entrepreneurs, tackling the topics of pesticide use, new best-practices in feeding and breeding heifers, cultivation of fruits and fruit trees, and rules and regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture. On April 30th, three awards will be awarded: for a) the most visited booth, b) the best decorated booth and, c) the most representative booth. Additionally, 40 students from two Bujanovac high schools “Sezai Surroi” and "Sveti Sava," and one Preševo high school “Skenderbeu” who participate in the Junior Achievement program, will exhibit at the fair.
USAID’s Economic Security program is committed to helping underdeveloped municipalities to increase their economic potential by working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them to become more competitive and expand into new markets.