Students from Sarajevo planted raspberries and started their own business: We did not want to sit and wait for the job

Students of Faculty of Agriculture in Sarajevo Haris Kanlic and Bilal Causevic from Gorazde apply their knowledge they got on faculty in their own production. They showed to people in Bosnia and Herzegovina that there are people who are not prepared to sit down with their hands crossed, waiting for job. 

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- Our country has great potential for agricultural production and that was one of the motives to start our own business. We are not one of those who sit down and wait for their parents to give them pocket money, but we decided to start something on our own - said Haris Kanlic for Klix.ba.

Two years ago, Haris planted raspberries on his family's plantation. The work started and he expanded his production and he studied at the same time, which is very demanding, but he is enjoying in the fruits of his labor. 

- Perhaps we won't be successful, but its worth a try. I apply everything i learn on college. Besides participating in works, in planting and harvesting, i give expert advice on production, on the protection and planting mode - said this young man.

Practice on his own property 

After harvesting the family's farm, part of raspberries is sold fresh, while the rest is processed and a variety of jams, juices, compotes and syrups are produced that are in high demand in the market. Kanlic is processing other fruits besides raspberries, he makes jams out of  plum and quince, as well as products from apples and cherries. Part of the product are for their own use, while part is for the sale at fairs, and buyers often come on their own to the farm.

Foto: Wikipedia.org / Свифт

- We produce a lot, about a hundred kilos of jam, compote and sweet and probably close to 200 liters of various juices and syrup - the story of a young man.

Haris' friend Bilal is one year younger, but he started the production of raspberries on his own with the help of his parents, which expanded in time. Bilal and Haris planted a land together in Kodzaga Polje in Gorazd with a one year culture, fruitful in the first year in a period from August to the first autumn frosts. Growing of raspberries payed off in every way.

-  The knowledge we got on college we use in production to make our work easier, we gained profit and we are not standing still. It takes a lot of effort to grow these plants. We did well here, we have plots in Kopaci and Mujkovic Polje - said Haris.

Because of the studies in Sarajevo, they go around crops during weekends, and we conducted everything necessary and did quality analysis of the soil to make the farming even more successful. They did the analysis with the help of the professors. The fruits from the first year proved they did everything right. If the weather conditions are good in this year, they expect even better harvest , reports Klix.ba.

- There is a lack of practice on our college, so we have multiple benefits. For example, the soil analysis shows if it lacks in something or it has too much of something  for the culture we want to grow. There was a lack of phosphorus and we added it through mineral fertilizer, later also using organic, we measured plantations... The benefit is that this raspberry gives fruit the same year we plant it - said Kanlic.

Foto: Telegraf

There are few who want to work

Bilal adds that there were mistakes, as in every beginning, but he is not hiding the pleasure for success.

- We are pleased, everything turned out fine the first year as it should. There was almost a ton, we got maximum yield, we returned our investment, and we earned some - said Bilal Causevic.

He explains that they had problems with water but they managed in their own way. 

- We dug a channel to Drina river, we brought pipes, we ensured irrigation system "drop by drop" with the help of my parents. Now we have water and we work every day - said Bilal.

Haris is proud because they already displayed their products on fairs.

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

- There are few who want to work. I learned because my parents always worked on soil. We want to succeed in our industry, to finish college and we will see what happens next. We might expand our production to some other cultures of berries, currants and blackberries. There were good conditions of purchase last year for raspberries last year. We will see what will happen till the harvest - said Kanlic.

Haris and Bilal are dreaming about successful future and making progress in the industry. They don't want to be the part of the statistics of unemployed people, but the example to young people that effort and knowledge can pay off. They believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina will soon, like the EU, make a serious system of purchase of agricultural products and give necessary security to the farmers, reports Klix.ba.

Look at the more photos HERE.

(Telegraf.co.uk)