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Country Profile: Kosovo
Kosovo, a landlocked province within Serbia, has been the backdrop to a centuries-old and often-strained relationship between its Serb and ethnic Albanian inhabitants.
Capital: Pristina
Population: 1.9 million (Estimated, 2002)
Population below National Poverty Line: 50.3%
GDP (current Euros): E1.895 billion (2004 projected)
Population in extreme poverty: 12%
GDP per capita (current Euros): E 964 (2004 projected)
GDP per capita (purchasing power parity): N/A
Religion: Muslim, Serb Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and others
Languages: 88% Albanian, 6% Serbian, 6% other
Climate: Hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
The province is administered by the UN, having endured a conflict in the late 1990s which was fuelled by ethnic division and repression. Sovereignty rests with Belgrade. Reconciliation between the majority ethnic Albanians, most of whom seek independence and the Serb minority remain elusive.
The region is one of Europe's poorest, with more than half of its people living in poverty. Although it possesses rich mineral resources, agriculture is the main economic activity.
Ethnic Albanians number about 1.5 million; some 100,000 Serbs remain following a post-war exodus of non-Albanians.
Bóthar in Kosovo and Albania.
Since 1999 Bóthar, together with its field partner Heifer International, has provided assistance to Kosovar refugees in Albania and Kosovar farm families whose livelihood was destroyed by war. Its livestock programs attempt to restock farms, provide disaster and emergency relief, provide training in agriculture, promote rural development, and promote peace.
Rehabilitation of Small Scale Farms in Kosovo
In Kosovo, farm assets were either destroyed or damaged on a wide scale. The majority of the livestock (cattle 50%, small ruminants 65% and poultry 85%), which composed almost half of all agricultural production, were lost or killed. The remaining animals face a loss of feed concentrate and adequate shelter, resulting in a decline in production.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the conditions for the people of Kosovo. This is being done by providing Holstein and Simmental cattle; providing feed concentrate to animals during the winter season; providing materials for reconstruction of animal shelters and micro credit loans for reconstruction of other buildings; training each participating family in livestock care, forage production, and soil erosion control; and contributing to farmer cooperative development for improved and sustainable management, production, and dairy processing.
KOSOVO project Profile
Rehabilitation and Well Being for War Widows in Gjakova Community
Location: 3 villages in the Gjakova Community: Dobrosh, Krelan, Korenice (South-Western Kosovo)
Number of families: 42 families
Animals: Simmental pregnant heifers from Austria or Germany
Other inputs: freight, horticulture, agricultural equipment, transportation, personnel
Training: in animal husbandry, milk production, community fortification
Brief synopsis of the project: the target groups (mainly women) have been seriously affected during the Kosovo War and are now provided with cattle and training in order to improve their socio-economic situation
Pass-on obligations: another 42 families will benefit within 3 years
Expected benefits: by 2012: at least 80% of the target families improve their income and nutrition by 20% selling dairy products and milk, as well as establish cross-links among each other
Local partners: Medica Kosova
Other relevant data: the climatic conditions are favourable for dairy cattle farming, Kosovo is a successful Bothar project country
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