Malesija, Montenegro - December 2006 — Malesija, located about 10km from the capital of Podgorica, is one of the largest agricultural areas in Montenegro. The majority of agricultural producers in Malesija grow vegetables on small plots of land, which makes it impractical for individual producers to buy the equipment necessary for efficient land cultivation.

The Local Economic Development Planning Team from Malesija approached IRD with a request to support the purchase of a tractor with an attachment for laying mulching film and other necessary equipment for the Association of Agricultural Producers from Malesija. In turn, the Association would make the equipment available to its members at reduced costs, establishing a rolling fund for the maintenance of the machinery and for the purchase of other new equipment, making the project and the Association self sustainable.

In order to meet their in-kind contribution requirements under the USAID-funded Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program, the association received significant support from numerous local partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management; the Municipality of Podgorica; and numerous local private companies, so that while the overall value of the equipment was over US$19,300, the American people, through USAID, invested only $9,700.

“The new mechanization means a great deal to us who live on agriculture production in this area. As a result of its usage we will be able to increase our production, cultivate more land, as well as reduce the use of pesticides,” says Smajl Cunmuljaj, a vegetable producer and member of the association.

IRD delivered the equipment to the association at the end of March 2006, and within two months, it had already been used by 68 association members, out of 70 active vegetable producers in this area. In that time, the association generated $2,500 in profit from providing services, while its members collectively saved more than $8,000 as a result of the discounted user fees. In addition, seven new entrepreneurs started to develop their own vegetable production, encouraged by new conditions for land cultivation.