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Positive News was handed the guardianship of Global Village News and Resources in summer of 2004. Although we would like to continue to make the archives available to subscribers and readers we would like to point out that stories published prior to issue 89 were not under our editorial guidance and would like to make a distinction that these are not necessarily a reflection of the current opinions of our editorial team. Organic Farmers Turn A Profit On Fallow-To-Fertile War Land Croatia - A group of farmers near Croatia's Dalmatian coast are turning adversity to advantage by growing organic vegetables on land left fallow and pesticide-free during years of war and occupation in the 1990s. And stores are ready to snap up their produce. "These areas, due to force of circumstance, have been free of pesticide sprays and hardly cultivated for the better part of 10 years," said Cornelis Klein, UN Resident Representative. "Yet these very circumstances, along with other factors such as climate, make the region ideal for growing ecologically-sound produce." The European Commission and the Government of Norway funded a United Nationas feasibility study for organic food production in the area that helped launch the initiative. Last summer, 12 members of the farmers' association undertook a pilot project to produce organic vegetables according to European Union standards for the Croatian domestic market. They are growing tomatoes, peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots, eggplant and lettuce. In addition to ensuring proper certification, the UN Development Program has provided training courses for the farmers and contacts with buyers to minimize the farmers' risks. "The pilot is being keenly watched by many farmers throughout this agricultural region and interest for next season is very high already," said project manager Denis Van Dam. |
