Description
The project addresses the conservation of disappearing old traditional apple and pear varieties. The project aims at conserving them and promoting their nutritional value. First, the remaining trees from the selected apple and pear varieties will be identified. Second, 20 people will be trained to grow the apple and pear varieties and organic fertilizers. Third, 2000 cuttings from 8 trees will be grafted and grown in a nursery to get 1500 saplings. Next, the saplings will be planted, grown, disinfected and certified in the nursery. Then the 1500 saplings will be planted in the rural areas of Blagoevgrad and Simitli Municipalities and Delchevo Municipality, Macedonia. The project will benefit local communities, farmers and NGOs . The partner will contribute with its experience from implementing 2 similar projects funded by the Global environment Fund.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the conservation of disappearing old traditional apple and pear varieties. The latter are becoming extinct in the South-West region. The project aimed at conserving the authentic varieties and promoting their taste and health properties. For that purpose the project team identified trees from the endangered varieties of “tziganka” apple and “sulia” pear and ensured planting of saplings and new crops. The implemented project resulted in 1500 seedlings of fruit trees which were planted in the rural areas of Blagoevgrad and Simitli Municipalities. About 500 of them were planted in the land of Delchevo Municipality, Macedonia. The seedlings were prepared by private farmers struggling financially. The target groups were members of NGOs and the local community. In addition, 2 trainings of stakeholders were held on the importance and growing of the old apple and pear varieties attended by more than 100 participants. The target groups took part in the trainings with great interest, acquired experience and knowledge, exchanged information and experience about the crops; each representative was actively involved in the activities, tree planting in particular. The other stakeholders who joined the project were representatives of local communities and local authorities, would-be farmers, people with financial challenges and minorities. The partner organization has implemented 2 projects on a similar topic. The partner contributed with its expertise and team of experts with experience and knowledge in the NGO sector and agrobiodiversity.
Summary of bilateral results