Planting the Future: A Journey of Growth in Kosovo’s MAP Sector

In western Kosovo, a new initiative is bringing life back into the country’s once-thriving medicinal and aromatic plants sector (MAPs). After years of steep decline, the sector is now seeing a fresh wave of innovation thanks to a strategic partnership between CNVP Kosovo, the Organika Association, and the leading exporter Agroprodukt Shpk. Together, they are blending modern technology with traditional cultivation to help local farmers meet rising EU standards and reclaim their place in competitive international markets.

So far, 150,000 seedlings have already taken root across two demonstration plots, with another 300,000 set to be planted in autumn 2025 during the project’s second phase. This next phase will feature the use of a newly introduced pneumatic sowing machine — a leap forward that replaces manual planting methods, reduces seed waste, and ensures precision while cutting labor costs for farmers.

Driving this transformation is a dynamic team of young CNVP advisors, newly trained to deliver technical guidance and on-the-ground support. Their role extends far beyond farm visits or training sessions. They are helping farmers adopt organic practices, make better use of their land, and strengthen resilience against the effects of climate change.

As weather patterns shift and growing seasons shorten, adapting to climate change has become essential for sustaining agriculture in Kosovo. The advisors play a crucial role in this process — working side by side with farmers to build soil health, manage water resources efficiently, identify climate-resilient MAP species, and introduce environmentally sound cultivation practices.

Now deployed across the country, these young advisors are becoming trusted allies within rural communities. Their presence is filling a long-standing gap left by the limited number of public-sector advisors from the Ministry of Agriculture, while ensuring that Kosovo’s MAPs sector not only survives but thrives in a changing climate.