Prishtina, September 20, 2016 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, today participated at the traditional manifestation “Apple Day” in Kovraga, where the harvesting of apples started symbolically.
President Thaçi said that each time he comes to Kovraga during the harvesting time, it looks red more and more because of the numerous apples.
“You have made Kovraga look red with your work, by cultivating apples. And it seems red to me every time more and more, because each time you have added the planted areas”, said President Thaçi.
He said that the orchardman of Kovraga from about 20 hectares of apples as they possessed in 2000, this year they have over 100 of planted hectares.
“The institutions of the country, with the increase of the budget for the agricultural sector have become a labor force to you and you here, along with many other farmers, with work, with commitment and care have managed to do wonders. I have always believed that investments in the agricultural sector will bring the right results and whenever I visit farmers, this trust only is reinforced further”, said President Thaçi.
From 2009 until 2014, according to President Thaçi, through investment grants in Kovraga have been invested about 1 million euros, including here the participation of the beneficiaries themselves.
“The result is obvious: You now produce 2 million kilograms of apples per year”, said President Thaçi, adding that with the apples of Kovraga the municipality of Istog is identified, and arboriculture in Kosovo as well.
Also present at the traditional manifestation “Apple Day” were the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Kurtan Kajtazi, the Mayor of the Municipality of Istog, Haki Rugova, the Mission Director of USAID in Kosovo, James Hope, and the MPs of the Assembly of Kosovo, Ramiz Kelmendi and Besim Beqaj.