Krasniqi: Institutions to be “s open”, economy will have catastrophic shocks

More than 120 hectares of land at the foot of the Yunik Mountains extend the Krasniqi family apple plantations. Being in a very fertile area of the country, they grow apples, cherry trees, veneers, blueberries, vines. But that's not enough. This Krasniqi family has built the rare bull race farm “Angus Argentino”, as well as a water pipe plant.

Through these investments, they brought the German quality of products with the aim of contributing to the Kosovo economy. For the latter, they are calling on institutions to be “open”, because as a result of the pandemic situation, there will be damage to endorm.

Agron Krasniqi, who put aside the acting profession and living in Germany to devote himself to family business, tells of the investment history that started with 40 hectares of land. By thus investing in three directions, this family created new jobs, while the country seized serious companies like “German Plast”, “Joos Krasniqi” and “Luna Group”

The family's plantations today are cultivated apple, cherry, vista, blueberry, and ivy, while Agron himself returns 12 years in time, in 2008 when the brothers and I decided to invest in Kosovo.

This happened in 2008, fortunately we came on vacation at that time with the two brothers, at that time we lived with the two brothers in Germany. And in Kosovo, the phase of privatisation of agricultural lands that used to be the former Erenic of Gjakova had begun. One of our friends has privatized much of this land. Then we decided to buy a piece of land, first 40 hectares, and we gradually started investments parallel to the builder, which was our old trade and agriculture, but with a very slow step”, he relates.

The Krasniqi brothers today also possess the extraction point. Up to a thousand tons of apple is available. The fruit that is collected is stored at a temperature of 3 degrees Fahrenheit [3 ° C].

Over the years, acres of crops were also enlarged, starting with apples, and then blueberry, sweet cherry, and cherry. Fruits that grow on Kosovo soil from this family, Agron says they are exported to many European countries.

They are already on the tables of many families in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and soon Sweden.

We exported the subx0s to Germany, the Netherlands, the blueberry in the Netherlands mainly, a small part to Switzerland. This year we also have a target in Sweden is a new market that has shown us these days. The Apple is mainly for Germany, we have several selling points in Berlin, in Stutgart and Dusseldorf. Mostly we're producers that focus 100 percent on table products. We're not industrial producers, but we're producers of a little higher classes. Focus directly on production for table”, Krasniqi shows.

Many girls, boys, and women work for the cultivation of these different agricultural cultures on the fertile soil of the tiny picturesque town of Yunik.

Over 60 per cent are young women and girls employed only in the agriculture sector.

These moments should be the number in agriculture 2030, but during the summer season this number normally multiplied because of the harvest season. In general, however, as a family in Junik, the number ranges from 120 workers to 200 during the season. The idea when we first came up we didn't expect it, we thought that we would be focused on 50 workers with men and menowes from Europe, we thought quite differently, but seeing the dynamics of development and the growth of land 100 hectares, maybe even more, we've changed approach”, suggests among other things Krasniqi.

As is true worldwide, our country has been affected by COVID-19. This has paralyzed normal life in all countries, affecting businesses as well.

Agron Krasniqi draws attention that the damages are great, while appealing to authorities to be “open-eye”, as this disease could give a catastrophic blow to the country's economy.

Subtitles: Actually, agriculture has not felt strongly because people have to eat, but it has also had their own asses because I go through a very long period of time and governments do not know what to decide. I call to be very careful because it doesn't have time to wait. Here if you don't handle it. Even in terms of other businesses, I have told Kosovo to open its eyes urgently and seek international assistance because Kosovo businesses have been initial, and if we decide to remain that way in the mercy of fate this virus has to bring catastrophic proportions to the economy. I think the damage will be much more economic than health”, Krasniqi points out.

As he speaks of all these investments he has made in his native country, Agron thinks his return to Kosovo is one of the best decisions.

If in Kosovo it costs a hectare of land between 20,000 euros, and a worker receives about 500 euros of wages, and makes profit that in Germany and Italy has six times the same price, I don't see any logic except to come up with investment and move forward. Nature is phenomenal... I have to call my mind and understand why they fought us so much. Why we've been so good, or why we have a great place. And I think this second, that people have come to die here because it wasn't their place, and to take this place away from us here. But we have it and we're leaving it ourselves”, consider Krasniqi.

On the Krasniqi family's agricultural grounds, up to 200 people work during the season, thanks to development dynamics.

In addition to agriculture and livestock, this family also established the water pipe factory “German Plast”, where it has employed dozens of Kosovars and is producing water pipes for many communities of the same quality as in Europe.