Final conference of the project “Support to development of agriculture cooperatives”, which is funded by European Union, implemented by CARE International and Macedonian Enterprise Development Foundation, was held today in Skopje. During the event results of the project were presented as well as successful video stories of cooperatives.
“The project had aimed to create lasting results and impact by intervening on changing legislation, building capacities of main stakeholders and providing resources and financial assistance to agricultural cooperatives and their representative association. By carrying out a multi-level and comprehensive support, the project contributed to higher productivity and competitiveness of agriculture sector, and more specifically increased market competitiveness and cooperation among farmers in North Macedonia, through creating favourable conditions for the development of the existing and creation of new agricultural cooperatives”, said Ms. Sumka Bučan, Regional Director CARE Balkans
As she pointed out CARE and its partners designed an action that strived to achieve results in several areas: legal framework, association, awareness raising, monitoring and technical and financial support to agricultural cooperatives to increase their productivity, effectiveness and market access.
“I am very please to say that the project was successful in all these areas and has even overachieved results in some of its segments. This is a result of hard work commitment and dedication of all of you. We can confidently say that the project created the preconditions for lasting results and impact when it comes to development of agricultural cooperatives in North Macedonia”, said Bučan.
At the end of the event Bučan thank the Delegation of the European Union, CARE staff, the project partner Macedonian Enterprise Development Foundation, governmental stakeholders and above all the agricultural cooperatives and producers, who participated in the project, for making this a success story.
Conference was attended by Mr. Arjanit Hoxha, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Mr. Constantinos Soupilas, EU Programme Manager, Ms. Sumka Bučan, Regional Director, CARE Balkans, Mr. Lazar Nedanoski, Executive Director, MEDF, Ms. Suzana Dimitrievska, President, MAAC and Mr. Dragan Peric, CARE Project Manager.
