Swiss and Danish investment in the horticulture sector

The Swiss Project for Horticulture Promotion, Kosovo (SPHPK) was launched in 2001 with the overall goal being the creation of sustainable employment and income through the promotion of the horticulture-agribusiness sector and thereby helping to improve overall rural livelihoods. The Project is implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation – a Swiss Foundation for Development and Cooperation - and is currently one of the two main projects in SDC’s Economy and Employment Domain portfolio.

In January 2008, however, the Danish Government commenced a 5-year commitment to jointly fund the Project – approximately doubling the funding available. This allowed a substantial increase in activities and human resources – particularly in the areas of agri-business and environment (integrated production). It also led to a change in the name of the Project to simply ‘Horticultural Promotion in Kosovo’ (HPK).

The Project has been utilising a combination of value chain and sector-wide approaches. Its involvement has covered field vegetables, greenhouse production, soft and top fruit, ornamentals and Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP).

In 2009 the HPK project has introduced the Competitive Fund for Horticulture (CFH) which since has proven to be a good tool for leveraging investments in horticulture sector thus generating income and employment. During two years of implementation of CFH, 54 projects were co-financed at a value of € 630.400, leveraging investment of over € 1.5 mio.The implementation of 40 projects, out of 54 projects were completed and resulted in the creation of almost 200 jobs and profit of over € 1 mio.