PROJECT TO PRESERVE INDIGENOUS BREEDS AND PROMOTE DAIRY AND MEAT PRODUCTS LAUNCHED

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 27 /SRNA/ – The Republika Srpska Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management has launched the implementation of the Indigenous Breeds project, aimed at preserving indigenous breeds of domestic animals, such as the Buša and Gacko cattle breeds, Milan Puzigaća, head of the Department for Livestock Production at the line ministry, told SRNA.

Puzigaća said that the indigenous breeds also include the Pramenka sheep with its three strains – Vlašić, Kupres and Herzegovina – as well as the Mangalica pig and the Pogrmuša, or Živičarka, chicken. He added that the project is also aimed at improving the breeding of these indigenous breeds and promoting traditional products such as cheese, kajmak and processed meat products. "As far as cattle are concerned, we will focus more on dairy products, while for sheep we will focus on meat production," Puzigaća said, adding that DNA testing has confirmed 197 head of Gacko cattle. He explained that the project is aimed at preserving and improving indigenous breeds of domestic animals in livestock production in order to protect genetic resources and biodiversity. "At the same time, the project includes the promotion of final products obtained from indigenous breeds through improving their quality, recognition, branding and market value," Puzigaća stressed. According to him, the project is worth EUR 2.8 million for BiH and will be implemented over the next three years in cooperation with the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. Special emphasis, he added, has been placed on the development and promotion of traditional value-added products, the introduction of systems for designation of origin and quality, and strengthening the competitiveness of local producers. "In this way, conditions are being created for the sustainable development of rural areas, the preservation of tradition and increased income for agricultural holdings engaged in breeding indigenous breeds, as well as stronger links with agritourism in Republika Srpska," Puzigaća said. Puzigaća said that the project would be implemented in phases, beginning with a field inventory to identify locations, determine the number of breeders and animals, followed by microchipping the animals and GPS marking of farms.