(Hysni
Recica)
Hello and welcome to UNMIK on air with David Balham and
Sputnik Kilambi.
Women, they say, invented agriculture – the world over, they
remain the backbone of family farms. In
Kosovo too, women are a crucial part of the rural economy. Take the case of
Xhyle Idrizaj from Shtimje. A mother of
4, Xhyle has been running her farm since 2000.
The enterprise began when she bought 36 cows with the money
she saved working as a veterinarian for 18 months and a little bit of help from
her family. Swiss officials were apparently amazed by her will and
determination and gave her a tractor, equipment for milking cows and other
things.
Xhyle Idrizaj: I have 32 mini-farms and we all work together.
They are also women working at home. We produce 1000 liters of milk a day, I am
happy. I can call myself a successful farmer in Kosovo. I would urge all women,
men and young people to come and work in rural areas, even those who live in
town, come back to rural areas and start this activity since there is profit to
be made.
I couldn’t have achieved
this without my family, says Xhyla. This is a family enterprise and Liridona, her daughter is
proud to be part of it.
Xhyle
Idrizaj: I have been working here since we
opened the farm, we try to work together as a family. I am happy with the work.
I try to follow my mother’s example, though that is a bit tough. It is not easy
but if you are willing you can progress. I run the administrative part of the
farm, but I also do other things, feeding the cows for example. My parents pay me a salary too; I get 70
Euros every ten days.
Xhyla is also creating job opportunities - the farm employs
4 workers from her family, and 5 others.
Her husband, Hysen Idrizaj, is also a close collaborator in the family enterprise.
Xhyle
Idrizaj: We
are happy with the work we do the work professionally and we make a profit.
This is a field that has a perspective in Kosovo.
Xhyla is convinced agriculture offers many opportunities for
people. And at a time when unemployment is running high and cities bursting at
the seams, perhaps the future is in rural Kosovo – Xhyla at any rate is
optimistic.
Xhyle Idrizaj: I see a perspective in
agriculture and farming, I do not fear any competition whatsoever, I do not
fear even foreign competition, or milk coming from neighboring countries, from
the Balkans or Europe, I am sure one day we Kosovars will flood foreign markets
with milk - Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, maybe Switzerland and Germany will ask
for it if we have milk of high quality.
There is a lot of work in Kosovo, please work more,
when there is work for internationals here coming from all over the world,
there is also for us. I have so many things to do that if the day lasted 100
hours, I would be happier.
Words of optimism, words of determination. With women like
Xhyla Idrizaj Kosovo’s future certainly looks brighter.
That does it for this edition of UNMIK ON AIR. Thanks for
listening.