Flower Valley Report 2011

8/3/2019 Flower Valley Report 2011

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PROJECT REPORT

FLOWER VALLEY

Tuzla, July 2011

UdruenjeSnagaeneTuzla

Slanacbb75000Tuzla,BiH

tel./fax:+38735/225447;314741;314740

e-mail:[email protected]

R:1321000309185277,TuzlanskaBankaddTuzlaR:3060410000547951,HypoAlpe-Adria-Bankdd

ID:420929936009
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.snagazene.org/http://www.snagazene.org/http://www.snagazene.org/mailto:[email protected]


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Project location: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eastern Republic of Srpska, Srebrenica, Potoariand Bratunac

Reporting period: April 2009 June 2011

Project description

Flower valley project is implemented in the region of Srebrenica, i.e. in Srebrenica,

Bratunac and Potocari since 2006. The primary objective of the project is the psychosocial

recovery through occupational therapy, reintegration and economic empowerment and

poverty reduction in the region.

An important segment of the projects objective was to strengthen the return process andimprove the social and psychological state of the target group. During the entire project

period Snaga Zene was providing psychosocial treatments, and professional monitoring ofthe project was done by an agronomist throughout trainings of beneficiaries in the area of

cultivation of flowers (roses and tulips), herbs (calendula, lavender, Echinacea), and

greenhouse production.

Through its activities Flower valley project offers a positive approach to life through joint

work in the greenhouses, gardens and plantations, gatherings, positive experiences

sharing in a positive environment.

Target group

In the Flower valley project are included beneficiaries from Potoari , Bratunac andSrebrenica as well as beneficiaries from surrounding villages - Sueska, Bajramovii,Budak, Peite and others who have decided to deal with production and cultivation offlowers - tulips and roses, medicinal herbs and production of vegetables in greenhouses.

The project involved 55 direct and 200 indirect beneficiaries.


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The selection of beneficiaries for material support was made on the basis of conducted

evaluation by social workers and with the agreement made with the members of

psychosocial groups from Srebrenica and Potoari.

In accordance to project goals and objectives, Snaga Zene determined following criteria for

project beneficiaries selection:- all project beneficiaries are victims of war and post-war trauma,

- all project beneficiaries live under socially and economically poor conditions,

- all project beneficiaries are going through the process of reintegration and

reconciliation and coping with daily problems related to that,

- all project beneficiaries are members of Snaga Zene group for psychological, social and

medical support.

Implemented activities

1. Purchase of agricultural equipment

During the reporting period within material support were purchased 13 greenhouses,

from which 7 of 100 m2 and 6 of 50 m2 for the production of roses, tulips and vegetables.

All procured greenhouses were installed in the open area, nearby beneficiaries homes.Greenhouses were transported to the specific locations where beneficiaries live and were

installed by the supplier. Sizes of greenhouses varied depending on space and capability

of project beneficiaries. Beneficiaries received training on how to use and maintain

greenhouses (watering, planting and temperature maintenance).

Upon instalment and received instructions, all project beneficiaries started to grow roses,

tulips and vegetables (different kinds: potato, tomato, peppers, cucumbers, beans and egg

plants) which are planted after tulip blossoming.

95% of all beneficiaries managed to produce roses, tulips and vegetable for sale and

therefore succeeded to generate income for their families.


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With aim to have better, larger and better production, 3 greenhouses of 100 m2 have been

purchased specifically for beneficiaries who are the most successful in growing the Red

Berlin rose, a sort, which is extremely sensitive and require additional protection from bad

weather and various diseases.Also, on 4 greenhouses which are assigned to beneficiaries

within the Flower gardens project, were made replacement of foil.

Other agricultural equipment that was purchased within this project was a motocultivator

with a trailer and 13 motor hoes for farming. All beneficiaries who have received material

means have signed an agreement of donation in which they are committed to

conscientiously use and maintain equipment and will not alienate or assign it to thirdparties.for each donated item.

2. Purchase of planting material

Medicinal herbs

In order to further develop the project, during the reporting period, emphasis is given to

the activities of expansion of plantation production of roses and tulips, plantation andcultivation of medicinal plants calendula, mint, lavender and Echinacea. For this


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purpose were purchased 16 kg of calendula seeds, 510 kg of mint roots, 3640 lavender and

200 Echinacea seedlings.

Production of medicinal herbs has not been yet developed in this region, but given that

this is a region where organic production is possible, in spring 2009 the first fields were

planted with calendula on 12.000 m2 , mint on 3.000 m2 as well as on small experimental

fields with Echinacea - a very useful herb which is used for immunity strengthening and it

is rare in Europe, and lavender whose fresh blossom can be used for essential oilproduction and dried for production of various aroma-therapeutic products.In 2010 6 beneficiaries started with the plantation production of lavender, and a

beneficiary of plantation production with Echinacea. During this year the production was

expanded to 11 more plantations of lavender and 2 of Echinacea, so at this moment we

have 17 plantations of lavender and 3 of Echinacea. Plantation production of calendula is

also expended and now 22 beneficiaries are dealing with this production. Unfortunately,

mint production was not proved to be profitable due to the great supply on the BH market

this medicinal herb is difficult to sell, and for these reasons, the cultivation of these cropswas withdrawn. For the purpose of drying herbs was purchased the material from which

were made a total 70 pieces of girds for drying.

During the period from July 2009 to July 2011 were produced approximately in total 3.330

kg of dried calendula flowers by 22 beneficiaries, 5 kg of calendula Princess Gold seeds -

the first plantations in BiH, 400 kg of fresh Echinacea flower, 10 kg o Echinacea seed and

100 kg of dried mint leaves. The revenue generated from the sales was in total amount of

around 19.500,00 EUR (BAM 38.000,00). Since the growing of lavender started in 2010, the

yield of these plants will be generated in late summer of this year.


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The most of the medicinal herbs quantities were purchased by the factory for tea

productions Biljana Maoa with who Snaga Zene has signed an agreement ofcooperation. One part of the production was purchased by Cooperative Smrak fromZvornik. The entire quantities of Echinacea production were purchased by pharmaceutical

company Cydonia from Graanica. The cooperation has also been established with the

company Ljekobilje from Trebinje which deals with purchasing and processing ofmedicinal, aromatic and spice herbs, with tea productions and production of tea, seedlings

and seeds of mentioned herbs.

Roses and tulips

In 2009, 7 beneficiaries have been dealing with roses cultivation to which in total 7.000rose rootstocks were distributed in 2008 that were inoculated in 2009. In March 2010, 3150

roses rootstock were purchase which were planted by 6 beneficiaries and inoculated inAugust and 2.500 more rootstocks were delivered to three beneficiaries in September 2010.

In March 2011, in total 220 rose seedlings of various sorts (sTos separate donation) were

distributed to 6 beneficiaries and are used for rootstock inoculation in order to enrich

cultivation of roses, beside the Red Berlin sort there will be cultivated sorts such as

Pomponella, Ingrid Bergman and Barkarole, and from next year rose sort Vandela as well.

Within the reporting period 22.000 rose flowers were produced and were mainly sold to

local florist shops in Tuzla and Bratunac, but for the one part of production beneficiaries

themselves found the market.


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One of the non-project activities which realization started in November 2008 was the

plantation of 24.000 tulips donated to Snaga Zene Association by BloembollenbedrijfMelanick company. Tulips were granted to six beneficiaries who already hadgreenhouses where tulips were temporary planted into small flowerpots. In April 2009

tulips were transferred to Tuzla and exhibited within Flower Festival named "Flowered

Holland and Srebrenica in Tuzla" at Pannonian Lakes. Festival was realized in cooperation

with Municipality of Tuzla.

Within the project Flowers for Beautiful Life which was implemented in cooperationwith Dutch organization sTos the plantation production of tulips was extended in

November 2009 when 20.000 tulip bulbs were planted in Srebrenica region. The aim of the


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project was to economically empower women returnees and to improve the placement of

flowers and other products from Srebrenica. In order to accomplish that, a market stand

for selling tulips and roses at the market place in Tuzla is rented in April 2010. Income

generated with this kind of sale amounted to an average 260,00 EUR (BAM 500,00) per

beneficiary.

3. Other activities

During the reporting period for the purpose of roses, tulips and medicinal herbs

cultivation other minor equipment and accessories were also procured inoculation tools

and gums, protection agents, fertilizers, cassettes and flower pots for tulips and calendula

and inventory labels for donated greenhouses.

For a beneficiary who deals with the livestock breeding and vegetable production were

purchase 25 kg of clover seeds, 7 kg of corn seeds and 50 grams of cucumber seeds. Also,

20 seedlings of walnut were purchased and distributed to one beneficiary.

In June 2009 a cooling container - the fridge for storage of roses and tulips cut flowers was

purchased. The fridge is the property of Snaga Zene and it is intended for common use by

beneficiaries who deal with cultivation of roses and tulips, and for this purpose it is placed

in Potoari in the backyard of one of the beneficiary.

As a means of mutual interest which are also the property of Snaga Zene, were purchased:

scale for weighing dried and fresh medicinal herbs and compost shredder for processing,

i.e. triturating flowers and stems for the production of Echinacea tincture, as well as the

leftovers of flowers, fruits, vegetables and branches for production of valuable compost

and mulching materials.

Joint utilization, i.e. sharing the equipment by the beneficiaries who deals with flower and

medicinal herbs production contributed to the development of better mutual cooperation

among them, and enabled them to organize themselves into an informal group and as

such to act with aim to place, sell and promote their products at the local level.


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Given that the municipality of Srebrenica has five registered agricultural cooperatives,

several associations, including the presence of international agencies such as TIKA, JICA,

UNDP, CARE and CESVI who are dealing with the improvement of agricultural

production, linking farmers, organizing the purchase and marketing of agricultural

products, it has been concluded that the cooperation with these organizations is more

useful and productive for the beneficiaries that the establishment of formal Cooperative ofwomen farmers in the region of Srebrenica itself.Through this collaboration beneficiaries

are able to faster and better establish contacts with other buyers, to network themselves

with other producers, and even place their products at the regional level.

Unfortunately, the activity of building a house in Potoari that is planned with aim toexpand and further develop the Flower Valley project due to lack of funds is not possible

to realize in this period of time. That was one of the reasons why the activity of

procurement of distillation aperture as proposed in the project was not realized since there

would not be a place to install it and a large area is needed for that.

Another reason is that the beneficiaries found buyers for their products that have

purchased entire production of medicinal herbs, and those are: factory of tea and

medicinal herbs processing "Biljana" from Maoa, pharmaceutical factory "Cydonia" fromGraanica, and the agricultural cooperative "Smrak" from Zvornik which deals with

buying medicinal herbs.

One of the activities, which were realized during the reporting period, was the test of the

quality of apple vinegar and jam produced by women beneficiaries from Srebrenica region

and thereof the cooperation has been established with Womens Network Associationfrom Gradaac whose aim is to help women through improvement of agriculture, smallrange productions and placements. The chemical and bacterial analyses it has been made

of the jam made by 10 and vinegar by 2 women. Test results showed that the products are

good and organic.

Invited by Emina Association and with support of Snaga Zene, 44 group members fromPotoari and Srebrenica participated on the Fair of healthy food in Ustikolina on 25th


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September 2010 where they presented their products: roses, dried calendula, Echinacea

and its seeds and tincture, various jams, honey, vinegar, tarhanas, green tomato sweet jam,

various salads, aivar, sweet potato (batatas), dried cheese, tomato sauces, wool handicrafts

slippers and socks and many other products.On the "Days of Raspberry" fair held on 24th June 2011 in Bratunac, in addition to fresh calendula flower, roses, lavender and their

products, seeds and tincture of Echinacea were presented fresh raspberry and raspberryjam and juice. The fair is one of the most important trade fair of agriculture in BiH, and

Snaga Zene as its participant received a first Prize for the best stand at the fair.

It is important to note that fairs as well as festival "Flowered Holland and Srebrenica in

Tuzla," and a stand at the market place in Tuzla, had very good media coverage (TV,

internet, newspaper articles) which has much contributed to the media promotion of theproject, its objectives and results.

Educations

During the reporting period, a number of workshops were organized with aim to educate

beneficiaries in the domain of roses, tulips, medicinal herbs cultivation and greenhouse

production. The following topics were discussed:

- Roses cultivation: care, inoculation, diseases and protection, fertilization;

-

Roses cultivation in greenhouse: land treatment, planting, irrigation and watering,inoculation, protection and fertilization;

- Tulip cultivation: planting of tulip bulbs, monitoring of bulb and flower

development, cutting and storing, protection, fertilization;

- Cultivation of calendula, lavender and Echinacea:planting, protection, fertilization,

harvesting period, drying, medical attributes;

- Production of essential oils and tinctures from herbs;

- Flowers and bouquets arrangements for sale;

- Greenhouse production of vegetables and fruits;

- Marketing, market and products placement.


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Educations were held by agronomist of Snaga Zene Andrijana Markovi, and educationsin roses and tulip cultivation by Frans Neuman roses grower and Antoine van Shaik,experts from the Netherlands.

Project results

The Flower Valley project in Srebrenica region achieved lots of success among our

beneficiaries - especially women returnees and their children. Project beneficiaries

conducted all project activities in accordance to the requirements and guidance of SnagaZene team and created a possibility for joint production of their own products such asroses, tulips. Medicinal herbs, herbs seeds, vegetables and fruits which they managed tosell on local markets and in the region.

Besides the economic benefits that beneficiaries received, it is important to emphasize the

psychological effect of colours and scents of flowers on our beneficiaries as well as the

impact of occupational therapy, and the production of flowers and medicinal herbs which

itself has a positive psychological effect. Women, included in this project, have developed

their positive emotions watching the plantations of roses, tulips and herbs grow, enjoying

the beautiful colour of plantations, their scent, flowering and even drying.

Researches have shown that flower therapy is very helpful to people with psychological

disorders, to unemployed or employed persons with different social problems. Flowertherapy proved also to be very useful to the persons with various organic and chronic

diseases. Medicinal herbs, especially calendula, lavender and Echinacea with their intense

colours, orange and purple, raise the spirit and make women more cheerful and ready to

meet with everyday life and by its production on their properties women become the

producers generating an income which improves their economic situation. In that way,

sustainable return to Srebrenica region is also empowered.

Six years after the establishment of the Flower Valley project we have good experience and

conformation how the work with flowers and herbs contribute to the improvement ofpsychological state and health in general.


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In addition, project beneficiaries have established internal contacts and relations and

thereby established and developed inter-cooperation with the same aim to shareexperiences in order to make better production of roses, tulips and medicinal herbs. The

level of their personal satisfaction was visibly raised and directly influenced the process of

better reintegration and living in Srebrenica region. Besides the work of psychosocial

team, medical team of Snaga Zene influenced the improvement of general health situationin the region by providing additional support in providing medical attention on secondary

and tertiary level of medical protection. Huge confidence that all population from the

region have in Snaga Zene greatly influenced on better rehabilitation, reintegration and

co-existence.

CONCLUSION

Production of flowers and medicinal herbs proved to be very profitable. According to

Snaga Zenes estimates beneficiaries from those activities in the period from July 2009 to July 2011 achieved total revenues of approximately 41.000,00 EUR (BAM 80.000,00),

thereof 19.500,00 EUR from medicinal herbs production and 21.500,00 EUR from roses and

tulip sale, and it can be concluded that the realization rate of the project is 30% more than

expected given that the project involved 55 beneficiaries. The estimation of the profitsfrom the production of vegetables and fruits, in this case, is not made, since it is individual

self-sufficiency farming and one part of it is intended for the market.

The primary objective of the project was to provide the support in the psychological and

social aspects, i.e. to ensure faster recovery and resolution of psychological trauma caused

by war, and to strengthen social networks in returning region of Srebrenica which would

have provided better living conditions.

Since this is a group of people who belong to socially vulnerable category with minimal or

no income, most of them use the revenues generated from this project to educate their

children or for their basic needs. These revenues are very important for the stay of families


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in areas of return and the project itself has achieved good results in terms of sustainable

return and economic independence.

It can be said that the goal of the project that women from rural areas through the

activation into profitable agricultural activities gain a steady source of income for the

existence of their household and thus strengthen the sustainable return is fullyaccomplished.

The list of project beneficiaries and type of donation received in the period from April

2009 to June 2011

No. Surname and Name Type of donation

1. Ahmetovi KadaTulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation)

Motor hoe

2. Ademovi Adaleta Greenhouse 50 m2

3. Ademovi MuaMint root 60 kg

3 girds for drying

4. Aljkanovi BahrijaCalendula seeds 700 gr

1 gird for drying

5. Avdi AlmaGreenhouse 50 m2

Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation)

Lavender seedlings 50 pcs

6. Bekti Muka Lavender seedlings 94 pcs7. Bitinovi Mula Greenhouse 50 m2

8. Deli RemzijaTulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation)

Calendula seeds 1050.gr

3 girds for drying

9. Durakovi AjkunaGreenhouse 50 m2

Rose rootstocks 200 pcs


10. Durakovi Sanela



Motor hoe

Rose seedlings 30 pcs (separate sTos donation)

11. ogaz Mejra

Echinacea seedlings 200 pcs

Calendula Princess Gold seeds 20 gr


Motor hoe

Greenhouse foil replacement

12. ozi Fetija Calendula seeds 350 gr

13. Efendi Fazila Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation)Greenhouse foil replacement


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14. Efendi Muka Greenhouse 50 m215. Gabelji Fata Greenhouse foil replacement16. Garaljevi Raza Lavender seedlings 50 pcs

17. Gui Mirsada

Greenhouse for roses 100 m2

Motocultivator trailer

Tulip bulbs 3500 pcs (separate sTos donation)Calendula seeds 700 gr




18. Gui RazaMint root 150 kg,

Calendula seeds 375 gr,

5 girds for drying

19. Gui Razija

Calendula seeds 700 gr

Motor hoeLavender seedlings 300 pcs

20. Habibovi NisvetaCalendula seeds 350 gr


21. Halilovi Muka

Calendula seeds 700 gr;

Motor hoe;

Greenhouse 100 m2

Rose rootstock 200 pcs


3 girds for drying

22. Hasanovi MinaLavender seedlings 200 pcs


23. Hodi Zumreta Tulip bulbs 4000 pcs (separate sTos donation)

24. Huseinovi Mirzaha

Calendula seeds 1050 gr.


Motor hoe

Rose rootstock 1000 pcs.


5 girds for drying25. Ibrahimovi Behadelka

Greenhouse 50 m2

Motor hoe

26. Kari AbidaEchinacea seeds


27. Kari emsa

Greenhouse 100 m2,


Motor hoe

10 girds for drying

28. Kovaevi Ljubica Greenhouse 100 m2

29. Merdi uhra Lavender seedlings 345 pcs30. Mujai Ramiza 100 pcs chickens and food for chickens


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31. Muminovi Rukija Greenhouse 50 m2

32. Muratovi NuraCalendula seeds 1400 gr

Motocultivator with trailer

33. Ori Muka Calendula seeds 350 gr

34. Osmanovi Abida 100 pcs chickens and food for chickens

35. Paali MagbulaClover seeds 25 kg

Corn seeds 7 kg

Cucumber seeds 50 gr

36. Paali SaberaMint root 300 kg

Lavender seedlings 100pcs

10 girds for drying

37. Pelemi Jelena Calendula seeds 250 gr.38. Petkovi Radmila Tulip bulbs 500 pcs (separate sTos donation)

39. Rahmanovi Emina Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation)

40 Rami EminaCalendula seeds 375 gr,

3 girds for drying

41. Salihovi HaaCalendula seeds 375 gr,

3 girds for drying

42. Salihovi Nediba Tulip bulbs 500 pcs (separate sTos donation)43. Salki Armina Lavender seedlings 50 pcs

44. Salki Fata

Calendula seeds 700 gr

Greenhouse foil replacement

Motor hoe,Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation)


45. Salki HanaLavender seedlings 200 pcs

Motor hoe

46. Salki uhraCalendula seeds 700 gr,

5 girds for drying

47. Sandi AzraCalendula seeds 700 gr,

5 girds for drying

48. Sandi Fikreta

Calendula seeds 700 gr.Tulip bulbs 5500 pcs (separate sTos donation)

Lavender seedlings 700 pcs,



Motor hoe


5 girds for drying

49. Sandi Halida


Tulip bulbs 3500 pcs (separate sTos donation)Motor hoe

5 girds for drying


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50. Sandi Mirsada




Motor hoe

51. Sandi Smajo Greenhouse 100 m2

52. Smajlovi Bida Walnuts seedlings 2053. Smajlovi Mirzeta Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation)54. Sulejmanovi Nezira Calendula seeds 350 gr55. Sulji Paa Tulip bulbs 2000 pcs (separate sTos donation)

Description of donation Quantity

Equipment (in pieces)

1

Greenhouse 100 m2

(set with barrels andwatering systems)

7

2

Greenhouse 50 m2 (set

with barrels and

watering systems)

6

3Greenhouse foil

replacement4

4 Motocultivator 1

5Trailor for

motocultivator2

6 Motorhoe 13

7 Girds for herbs drying 70

Medicinal herbs

1 Calendula seeds 16,70 kg

2 Lavander seedlings 3640 pcs

3 Mint 510 kg

4 Echinacea seedlings 200 pcs

Flowers (in peices)

1 Rose rootstock 5650

2Tulip bulbs separatesTos donation

39.000

3Rose seedlings separate sTos donation

220


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Documents

Flower Valley Report 2011