The agricultural sector in Kosovo, in addition to other challenges, is also facing the negative effects of climate change.

The main challenges facing farmers in this regard include:

-high temperatures (more than 1 month with >30°C)

-late spring frosts

-floods

-hailstorms at unpredictable times

-heat stress – a challenge in livestock management

as well as other extreme weather effects that are putting increasing pressure on agricultural productivity.

These challenges not only endanger the crops planted, but also jeopardize the long-term sustainability of agriculture in Kosovo.

The effects are particularly pronounced among smallholder farmers, who often lack the resources, knowledge, or financial means to effectively adapt to these challenges.

Climate-smart farming practices (THAT'S IT) offer a way to increase resilience to them, while maintaining or increasing productivity.

There is a lack of accessible information on Climate Smart Agriculture methods. (THAT'S IT), lack of solutions developed or adapted to the local context, which would foster innovation and adoption at the local level.

AgroDev has launched an open challenge with the aim of promoting Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) solutions, and consequently, supporting selected pilot projects, which demonstrate high potential for concrete and sustainable impact, as a direct follow-up to this call.

The idea could be:

-An application

-A product

-A platform

-An app & product

-A new technology

-An awareness campaign

Benefits for participants

Participants in this call will benefit from their participation in various ways:

-Financial support: The three best solutions will be awarded cash prizes, providing an excellent opportunity to further develop the projects. The first place winner (gold medal) will receive €15,000, second place (silver medal) €10,000, and third place (bronze medal) €5,000.. These funds will serve as a basis for further advancing your solution and attracting other potential investments.

-Recognition and visibility: Winners will receive recognition for their innovative solutions, increasing their visibility within the agricultural community and potentially attracting other opportunities for collaboration and investment.

Who can apply for the Climate Smart Agriculture Challenge?

Applicants must complete A by the following criteria:

-Have developed a concept of their idea or an MVP (minimum viable product);

-already have a product on the market;

-as well as be able to launch their proposed product within the next 6 months.

Applicants for the CSA challenge may include:

-Farmers, including young farmers

-Agronomists and students (at least in the final year of BSc. studies) 

-Agribusiness

-Educational institutions affiliated with the private sector

-Agricultural equipment suppliers

-Those who have a product or service that involves technology in some form, not just in the field of information technology (IT)

Applicants from the agriculture and technology sectors, including, but not limited to, agro-technology and climate-smart agriculture technologies, are encouraged to apply.

Priority will be given to solutions that have a strong agronomic component in this call.

Source - https://telegrafi.com