Women play a key role in agriculture and are the backbone of rural communities. This was said in the second training session held today (Saturday), within the project “Supporting women in business development”. Meanwhile, the main discussion took place around how to create, maintain and grow a strong network of trusted suppliers.

About 20 women from the business field had the opportunity to share their experiences in this training, in which they received information and advices on how to increase the impact of the organic food production they produce.

In the framework of this project, which is implemented by the non-governmental organization ‘Center for Innovations and Development’ and financed by the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation “SlovakAid”, sustainable resources in the production of organic food were discussed. It was said that sustainability, in the context of agriculture, means balancing the needs we have today and preserving resources for future generations, resources such as nutritious soil, water, and others.

Among other things, women were informed that building connections and networking is of great importance for any supply chain, especially for women who are in more isolated areas, who find it more difficult to create their networks. Therefore, it was emphasized that it is necessary to use it to create business connections and access to new markets.

In this training, there was a special emphasis on the discussion of the food-oriented quality safety system at the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).

Women entrepreneurs learned that the implementation of HACCP is necessary, because it avoids all risks to the health of the consumer. Further, it was emphasized that with the implementation of this system, the business itself benefits from showing commitment and responsibility towards food safety, creates a culture of food safety and reduces the economic consequences.

In the framework of the training, it was emphasized that the HACCP system has seven principles, among them the analysis of risks, including the identification of food risks, then the control points, the establishment of critical limits at the control points, the establishment of the monitoring system for control of critical points and others.

The women present at this training, in addition to learning about the importance of having the HACCP certificate for their products, were informed that the implementation of the Global Gap certificate is also necessary to have continuous success in doing business.

It was emphasized there that the advantages of Global Gap certification are the increase in the value of products, as it gives access to new customers and in new markets, reduces the possibility of losing business reputation and improves the efficiency of business processes and others.

Regarding these issues, some of the women present at the training shared information that they have certified land, on which they cultivate medicinal plants, vegetables, and other products.

Meanwhile, some others said that they have started with the implementation of the HACCP system, but added that after realizing the importance of certification with Global Gap, they will engage in this direction.

The training cycle will continue with women in the business field from all over Kosovo, where there will be even more detailed information and advice on how to do business as well as possible

The project, “Support for women in the development of their businesses” – is developed by the Center for Innovations and Development/CFID and is financially supported by the Slovak Agency for International Development and Cooperation/SlovakAid.