In this issue:

Mirlinda Kusari Purrini is honored

Supported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

with acknowledgment
Empowering Women in Agriculture

20122015

2 0 1 3 A c h i e v e m e n t s ( Wo m e n Entrepreneurs in Agriculture) Jasiqi beneficiary of SHEERA

Entrepreneurial initiative Ganimete Safete Shehu An entrepreneur in

agriculture
The Conference: Women's Role in the

WOMENS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Forestry Sector in Kosovo

Information on agriculture credit

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture 2012-2015

opportunities from financial institutions

NEWSLETTER
Volume 5, / January / 2014

Mirlinda Kusari Purrini is honored with acknowledgment

The Executive Director of SHEERA Mrs.Mirlinda KusariPurrini, in December 2013 was among the 12 women to be honoured with acknowledgment from the Group of Women Deputies of the Parlaiment of the Republic of Kosovo. During the meeting The Deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo 20012013 the Group of Women Deputies highly valued the contribution of Mrs. KusariPurrini at a national level toward the economic empowerment of women. The acknowledgment was given by the president of the GWD, Mrs. Teuta Sahatqija, for her contribution on the achievements on women's roles and the promotion of gender equality. Also, the Group of Women Deputies awarded 5 international organizations which highly contributed the advancement of Kosovar women and gender equality promotion such as: UNDP, UNWomen, NDI, OSBE and WomenforWomen.

Empowering Women in Agriculture 20122015

Through the project which started in January 2012, SHEERA is continually increasing the managing capacities of women entrepreneurs in the rural areas in four regions of the Republic of Kosovo (Gjakov, Gjilan, Pej and Mitrovic), which are considered regions with great potential for agricultural development. This programm is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. The objectives of this project are: contributing towards reaching the objectives of the National Strategies for Agriculture and Rural Development (NSARD) and the National Programe for Gender Equality. In the region of Gjakova, 10 groups of women have successfully completed the training held in the following rural areas: Crmjan, Malishev, Rracaj, Molliq, Novosell, Ujz, Bec, Dobrigje, Junik 1 and 2. So far 250 women have been trained, a total of 219 business plans were prepared. 1

In the region of Gjilan, 10 groups of women have successfully completed their training in the following places: Dobrqan, Prlepnic, Kamenic, Rogan, Gjilan, Viti, Zhegr and Kllokot. From these groups 234 women have received training, and 277 business plans were prepared in this region. In the region of Mitrovica, 4 groups of women have successfully completed their training which were held in the following villages: Vushtri (Lower Stanovc, Studime, Dumic), Sknderaj (Runik, Pemishte, Klloderinic, Samadrexh, Trnac, Lower Klina, Gllodernic, itak), Syrigan, the municipality of Skenderaj, and Mitrovic including women and girls from the rural areas of: (Stari Terg, Shipol, Cernush, Kutllovc, Vidishiq). So far 120 women have received the training, and 49 business plans have been prepared which require cofinancing for the development and growth of their businesses. The project for supporting women entrepreneurs in agriculture continues to form new groups in the region of Mitrovica during 2014, including the north part of the city. Women entrepreneurs beneficiaries in agriculture are continually provided with information and help from the SHEERA staff on preparing the appplications for different schemes and grants offered by other developing partners and local governmental institutions.

2013 Achievements (Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture)

Based on the challenges and problems women entrepreneurs in agriculture face, special attention is paid to the development of decisionmaking and knowledge capacities for the managing processes according the the type of business for increasing the productivity and fullfilling the market needs, which has a positive impact on the income and economic empowerment. Women in agriculture do not only benefit from the business training, but continue to be monitored by the SHEERA staff through: advice, consultations, and business development mentoring. They are also informed by relying on existing grant schemes and access to capital for business plans. During 2013, SHEERA through the project has reached the following results:
Numerical value Number of trained women 341 Number of prepared business plans 284 Number of monitored women 427 Registered businesses 29 Financed businesses/ auto financed 98 43 Connection/link to finances Professional technical advice 80 Women who became members during 2013 340 Activity description

Entrepreneurial initiative Ganimete Jasiqi beneficiary of SHEERA

Women entrepreneurs continue showing sucess in agriculture every day by bringing results in the private sector after successfully completing the business training: How to start a successful business. Ganimete Jasiqi from the municipality of Junik (Region of Gjakova), presented this entreprenurial initiative by demonstrating immidiate results in the area of agriculture. Ganimete reveals how the business training inspired her to face the challenges and risks associated with each business making initiative. Ganimete started cultivating strawberries, and currently owns 4 ar. of land where each year she grows her fruit. During the year she manages to cultivate 700800 kg of strawberries which are immidiately placed in the local market where she has made commercial agreements with stores in the municipality of Gjakova and Peja. Since 2010, Ganimete prepares traditional foods, which she then exposes to national fairs and makes available to tourists in the municipality of Junik. She does this with great passion because it was the only way to provide for her family until now. Ganimete stated that: If your actions inspire others to dream further, learn more, and do more for themselves and others, then you are a true entrepreneur. Ganimete does not hesitate to share her experience in agriculture with other interested women.

Safete Shehu An entrepreneur in agriculture

One of the many beneficiaries of SHEERA is Safete Shehu who attended the onemonth business training on How to start a successfull business with the group of women from the municipality of Junik in September, 2013. During our visit, Safete stated that she now feels more prepared to overcome the business challenges in arboriculture and forestry and that she is prepared to manage her own business in the near future. She carries out her agricultural activity along with her family members. Safete has been collecting and processing berries such as: chestnuts, elder, cornel and blueberry for a very long. In addition to collecting and processing chestnuts, Safete places a decent amount in the local market, and the rest is processed into marmallade and also offered in the marketplace; furthermore, she collects around 300 kg. of cornel and blueberry during the season. The collected fruit are placed in the local market and in fairs organized by the MAFRD and other nongovernmental organizations. Safete confirms that this business brings a decent income to her family, but her goal is to grow her capacities in the future and meet the consumer demands. 2

The Conference: Women's Role in the Forestry Sector in Kosovo

In October 2013, in Pristina, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) jointly with their Budapest office and MAFRD organized the conference on women's role in the forestry sector in Kosovo. The main objectives of this conference were promoting and understanding women's role in the forest sector in Kosovo and identifying the obstacles and opportunities women encounter in order to equally benefit from this sector. Mrs.KusariPurrini presented three successful case studies of women entrepreneurs in the sector of forestry and agriculture (beneficiaries of the SHEERA program), and informed the audience on the status of women entrepreneurs and all the challenges, problems, and their needs. Some of the issues that arose regarding women's role in the forestry sector were: the lack of subsidies, lack of law implementation mechanisms, lack of communication, the right over land, poor marketing, competition, increased cost of production, etc. Promoting women in forestry was a key objective of this conference, where presentations and suggestions unfolded the steps toward the accomplishment of this objective. The proposed recommendations were directed to all following actors: the public and private sector, the civil society, development partners, with the intention of including women in the managing plans and rural development project, monitoring and change evaluation, etc.

Information on agriculture credit opportunities from financial institutions

Financial Institutions RAIFFEISEN BANK Offers
RAIFFEISEN BANK Provides agricultural loans to individual farmers and companies involved in agricultural activities and livestock.

Details and documents necessary for application

Valid documents of the Republic of Kosovo (identity card, passport). Credit may be granted without a guarantor Up to EUR 30,000 does not require a mortgage The loan is approved within 48 hours In general, this product is offered as a short or long term loan The Bank enables clients to invest in capacity building for agricultural and livestock production. The minimum loan amount is: EUR 1000 Term Loan: up to 60 months Active business requirement: min 3 months Deadline for admission: 3 days

Contacts
Web: http://www.raiffeisen kosovo.com/ Email: info@raiffeisen kosovo.com Tel: +381 (0)38 222 222 Web: http://bpbbank.com Email: info@bpbbank.com Tel: +381 (0) 38 244 666 +381 (0) 38 243 657

The Bank for Business provides agricultural loans only for existing businesses. Start up businesses accepted only in case of agreement with institutions such as e.g. agricultural center.

BANK FOR BUSINESS

Pro Credit Bank provides agricultural loans to all customers in and outside Kosovo. Loans for agricultural investments are term loans, which are used for capital investments in agriculture, mainly for the purchase of fixed assets, land, building farms, greenhouses etc..

PRO CREDIT BANK

Any valid document of the Republic of Kosovo The minimum loan amount is EUR 3,000 The duration of the loan is up to 84 months, The credit is allowed within 48 hrs. and payments are realized based on the product sales The return period is up to 18 months, as well as irregular payments

Web:http://www.procreditban kkos.com Email: info@procreditbankkos.com Tel: +381 (0) 38 555 555 +386 (0) 49 555 555 +381 (0) 38 243 657

The Economic Bank offers Agricultural loans with 0% administrative expenses throughout October.The Economic Bank provides loans to individual farmers and agricultural companies involved in agricultural activities. The product is designed for working capital financing as agricultural inputs, artificial fertilizers, fodder for livestock etc. Financing of investments such as the purchase of equipment, farm expansion, purchase of livestock, etc.

The condition for obtaining agricultural loans is that the client have at least 1 year of work experience in agriculture. Loan Conditions The minimum amount is EUR 250 The maximum amount EUR 100,000 Term Loan of up to 4 years Return of the loan based on the sale of your products Grace period allowed Required documents Identity Card Proof of additional income in the family Administrative prohibition Guarantees Coloaner Capital

Web: www.bankaekonomike.com Email: info@bekonomike.com Tel: +386 (0) 49 733 395

ECONOMIC BANK

Financial Institutions

Offers
FINCA provides credits in agriculture which is offered to all who wish to increase their agricultural production. Individual farmers are required to provide loans with collateral while those in groups need to guarantee for one another. AFK offers loans for agriculture through which you can increase the agro economy, the added livestock, farm repair, the purchase of agricultural equipment, to increase the productivity and prepare for the agricultural season and all these favorable conditions.

Details and documents necessary for application

The term of the loan up to 36 months, Amount of credit from EUR 250 to 25,000 Up to 6 months of grace period. Loan characteristics: No bank account required amount to EUR 5,000 Pay in installments weekly, biweekly or monthly
Available to farmers and agricultural businesses (planting, dairy products, animal fattening, etc.). Purpose of the loan: Purchase of fixed assets, working capital, regulation of barns, buying cattle, seeds, agricultural machinery etc. Households and private persons maximum EUR 5,000 Registered SMEs (legal persons) maximum EUR 25,000 Deadline for return Up to EUR 1,000 max. 24 months EUR 1.001 to 3.000 max. 36 months 3.001 to 5.000 max. 48 months >EUR 5000 max. 60 months Waiting Period Up to 6 months (the client must pay only the interest).

Contacts
Web: www.fincaks.org Tel: +381 (0) 390 321 704 +377 (0) 44 216 859

FINCA

Web: http://www.afkonline.org/ Tel: +381 (0) 39 424 242 +381 (0) 390 326 463

AFK

KEP provides loans for agriculture to expand your farm, to increase the fund to livestock, to increase land productivity, agricultural equipment, purchases of new technology, and to borrow cash for seasonal preparation.

The amount EUR 2,000 25,000 The maximum loan term is 48 months Flexible Payment Plan One to two guarantors Collateral Document identification For amounts exceeding EUR 15,000 the mortgage is required The allowed grace period is up to 6 months

Web: www.keponline.net Email: apasha@keponline.net Tel: +381 (0) 390 324 888 +377 (0) 44 605 397

KEP

THE LINK FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN AGRICULTURE

SHEERA, updates its internet web page to turn it into an effective tool through which it will enable its members to promote their work and to set up collaborations with different local and international actors, the business community, development partners and networking among the SHEERA members and women entrepreneurs from other countries. In the web page has been created the database of SHEERA partners (http://www.sheera.org/antaret.php) and for Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (http://www.sheera.org/mod.php?mid=31), are included the data of women

The SHEERA staff: Mirlinda Kusari Purrini Executive Director Ardiana Qela Project manager Ymrane Nura Finance adiministrator Edita Axhemi Training Coordinator Marigona Stavileci Training assistant Ardita Rizvanolli Trainer ( The Region of Mitrovica) Sabrie Jagxhiu Zhubi Assistant (The Region of Mitrovica) Bujar Haxhibeqiri Driver & logistics

SHEERA board members: Xheraldina Vula Board President Prof. Dr. Justina Shiroka Pula Dr. Lulzim Cela Luljeta Vuniqi Burbuqe Berisha Honorary Member: Naxhije Buqinca

SENIOR ADVISER FOR ECONOMIC AND GENDER ISSUES: Glynis Long Jocelyne Talbot WOMEN'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATION SHEERA Rr.Ismail Qemali nr.9 (arshia e Jupave) Tel: +381 (0) 390 323 194 Fax: +381 (0) 390 323 194 Email: wsheera@gmail.com Web: www.sheera.org
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