Together for a Better Tomorrow in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Distribution of fruit tree seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides to the Sevarlije villagers by CWS Balkans.
Photo: SVC
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After the war, while they were still living as internally displaced persons (IDPs), people from the village of Sevarlije formed a “committee for return” because of the great desire of the inhabitants to return to their pre-war homes. The process of return began in 1998, and now 315 families have returned. The village contains balanced numbers of old and young people. Agriculture provides an opportunity for returnee families to work on their own, to regain their former independence from outside help and become self-reliant. To make self-reliance a reality, the families require assistance to re-establish their own farms and market their produce.
Church World Service (CWS) and Foods Resource Bank (FRB) is continuing to work with local implementing organization Merhamet, in partnership with the Sevarlije Village Committee, to implement the project Together for a Better Tomorrow. The project is now in its third phase, where displaced families are continuing to return. During phase one, in 2004, 300 families received seeds, fertilizers, and small tools. In 2005, the village committee received a 60-horse-power tractor with implements, to provide subsidized land cultivation services to 312 returnee families.
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| Distribution of fruit tree seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides to the Sevarlije villagers by CWS Balkans. Photo: SVC
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- A total area of 425 dunuma (425,000 square meters) was prepared for planting and 380 dunuma were planted. Additionally, 45 dunuma were cultivated to be ready for the spring planting season (2006).
- The total net income for Sevarlije Village Committee generated by the tractor was $1,333. The profit was used to cover the cost of building a garage for the tractor.§ 174 families benefited from the equipment (some of them had access to the tractor several times).
- By the spring of 2005, 85 hectares were completely de-mined.
- Members of Sevarlije Village Committee demonstrated the capacity to continue operating and maintaining the tractor without CWS supervision.
- In the spring 220 dunuma were planted with corn. The harvested amount of corn was 132,000 kilograms; 70 dunuma were planted with potatoes; and 266,000 kg. were harvested. The rest of the dunuma (30) were planted with various vegetables. The harvest was good, but it is difficult to specify exact yields because of the diversity of produce that was immediately consumed by the families. The fall planting consisted of 60 dunuma of wheat.
In 2006, the project continues supporting the long-term sustainability of 315 target families by providing fruit tree seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, and expert agricultural assistance to plant orchards. In the long-term, fruit from the fruit orchards will be a source of income for 315 returnee families. Sevarlije Village Committee will coordinate collection and sale of fruit to jam-making factories in the area.