The war in Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) resulted not only in widespread casualties, destruction of property, and large-scale population displacements. The war also brought economic ruin to millions. Agricultural production, a major source of livelihood for much of the Bosnian population, was disrupted due to the displacement of 2.5 million people within and outside the country. The war also caused further harm to the economy through damage to factories, a major source of employment for a large percentage of the population.

Today, nearly a decade after the end of the war, true economic recovery has still not come to Bosnia & Herzegovina. While relief activities ended years ago, the population still struggles daily with high levels of poverty and unemployment.

Partners for Development began work in BiH in 1993 at the height of the war with relief and rehabilitation efforts that continued after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. PFD’s work at this time focused on assistance to the agricultural sector in order to promote the return of ethnic minorities and to stimulate the economy.

In the years since the war, PFD has transitioned their agricultural efforts from a relief orientation to long-term development. Still working in the agriculturally rich but economically devastated Upper Vrbas region in central Bosnia, Partners for Development has developed an Integrated Agricultural Development Program designed to build market capabilities for local farmers in the field of agriculture.

The Integrated Agriculture Development Program, a multi-year, $8 million dollar program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, seeks to address problems of poor infrastructure, lack of market linkages and technical support through activities designed to make agricultural extension services, credit, and marketing opportunities more accessible to the local population. One of the key mechanisms for achieving these ends is the formation of the Independent Farmers’ Association (IFA), a cooperative, multi-ethnic member organization that is financially sustainable and democratically controlled by its dues-paying members, all of whom are local farmers.

The Independent Farmers’ Association offers small loans to its members through a commercial partnership arranged by PFD with the locally owned UPI Bank. It also arranges exclusive buy-off arrangements with commercial agricultural marketing firms that guarantee a minimum price for IFA members’ products. Joint procurements are an opportunity for IFA members to use their collective purchasing power, in this case to buy equipment and animal fodder at reduced prices.

PFD’s newest program in Bosnia & Herzegovina is the Border Inspection Posts project (BIPs), also funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. At the current time, Bosnia & Herzegovina is dependent on imports of animals as well as food from animal products. Due to a lack of standardization in regulations governing animal border inspection and a lack of training for border inspectors, there has been an increased risk of diseased animals being imported into Bosnia & Herzegovina from neighboring countries. With the BIPs project, Partners for Development is working in conjunction with the State Veterinary Office to build the capacity in BiH to monitor and control animal disease and animal movement. The goal is to better safeguard the local population as well as their livestock. Ultimately, the Border Inspection Posts Project and the harmonization and training it provides will better prepare BiH for livestock exports as well.