Within project activities (project – “Equal rural organic perennial Medicinal herbs production development on mountain areas of Banja Luka”) we visited our collaborators on rural City’s areas. On that occasion we inspected experimental Medicinal herbs plantations which we gave to the producers as nursery plants in March. Apart from nursery plants all producers were given indications on how to form experimental plantation, recommendation on growth method and care during vegetation period.

It is planed to establish experimental plantations on 12 different localities, in order to monitor adaptability of herbal species and introduce this type of production to the producers. It is our pleasure to conclude that all producers took experimental production very seriously and that they are keeping plantations very clean, free of weed and they are implementing all required agro-technical measures. .

This type of production is established in fallowing local communities: Karanovac, Gornja Piskavica, Verići, Česma, Bistrica, Agino Selo and Šargovac. During summer and vegetation period we will visit these producers again, several times, in order to monitor and control the production and in fall we plan to establish permanent plantations. Nursery plants comes from our own nursery plants plantation establish in cooperation with Institute of Agriculture of Republic of Srpska and Institute for medicinal herbs studies “Josif Pančić” from Belgrade.

We intent to present this project and its results on the Fair, through individual phases, and especially now that we realized that our producers are very interested in this type of production and willing to develop it.

We think that from this project with support from Administrative Office of Banja Luka City, as main development activist can result with completely organized, functional and sustainable Medicinal, aromatic herbs and spices production and processing on the rural areas of Banja Luka. We can say with absolute certainty that base for such and development activity exists. From our part we can incorporate many experiences into this project and help place these products onto the market as authentic local product.

The interest for Medicinal herbs and products made of Medicinal herbs is grate and it is necessary to gradually create production basis with increase of production quantities until they become important and interesting in European market. Until that time, local market placement is very interesting solution where these products will be recognized and appreciated based on their quality and other fulfilled requirements.

It would be important to say at the end that every day more and more agricultural producers and Institutions are interested in this type of production.

MIRELA ZRNIĆ, Graduated engineer of Agriculture