EU4AGRI project
Supporting agriculture competitiveness and rural development in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Description
EU4AGRI is a five-year EU-funded project in Bosnia and Herzegovina that modernizes the agri-food sector, creates and preserves rural jobs and supports recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The project raises investment in primary production, processing and rural businesses, expands advisory services and economic opportunities in rural areas, and improves the policy and institutional framework for agriculture and rural development in line with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.
Technology
EU4AGRI supports a wide range of digital tools for farming, agri-food processing, and public administration. Investments introduce smart farming technologies such as farm-management software, automation, sensor systems, drones, meteo-stations with forecasting software and ICT solutions for traceability aligned with EU rules. The project also developed an online grant management system and an advisory platform that is now used by ministries to manage public calls and enable direct communication between advisors and farmers.
Target
The main beneficiaries of EU4AGRI are farmers of all sizes, agri-food businesses, cooperatives, food processors and rural communities as well as public institutions and advisory services across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Business model
EU4AGRI is financed primarily by the European Union under the Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument, project ID 00115935, with a total budget of about EUR 23 million, and is co-funded and implemented by UNDP and the Czech Development Agency. Support is provided through competitive grant schemes and technical assistance. Beneficiaries typically co-finance 15–25 percent of eligible investment costs, while advisory services, capacity-building and policy support are provided free of charge.
Impact
EU4AGRI aims to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of agri-food sector. By 2025, it had launched 24 public calls, channelled nearly EUR 15 million in EU grants and leveraged an additional EUR 8 million in private co-financing. EU4AGRI has supported 211 investment projects and reached 2040 agri-food operators, creating over 300 new jobs, many for women and young people in rural areas. Among the 2082 stakeholders supported, 1623 were small farm holdings. Additionally, the project worked with 28 local governments, 6 science and research institutions, and 8 advisory service providers, enhancing both grassroots and institutional capacities.
Partners
USAID-Armenia; AgriCamp
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
Better life
