FROM A HOBBY TO A PROFITABLE BUSINESS IN FRUIT GROWING

Due to this year's early vegetation, fruit growers in Semberija are starting the harvest season earlier. At the blackberry and aronia plantation of the Pejić family in Mala Obarska, near Bijeljina, everything is ready for this major task. They are hoping for a good and high-quality yield of fruit crops that are not common for this region.

PHOTO: InfoBijeljina

Spomenka Pejić was displaced by the war from his hometown of Zavidovići. Together with his wife Milica, daughter, and son, he settled in Semberija, in the Koviljuše neighborhood. Five years ago, this family bought land in Mala Obarska and decided to produce blackberries and aronia. It wasn't easy, but love, dedication, and will bore fruit. This hobby provided them with a solid income, Spomenko begins his story for Info Bijeljina.

- We have 3.5 hectares under blackberries and aronia. Russian aronia withstands low temperatures, during winter dormancy up to minus 40, and with regular irrigation, it is also resistant to tropical temperatures. This plant does not need chemical protection, and we only use manure for fertilization. We have also planted 50 plum seedlings, varieties Čačanska Lepotica and Čačanska Rodna. Next year, we will expand this orchard with another hundred plum seedlings. The blackberry harvest starts in about ten days, and according to initial estimates, this will be an excellent year. We expect about 2 tons of aronia and about 1.5 tons of blackberries, says Spomenko.

The Pejić family processes the produced fruit. They sell about 1,500 liters of aronia juice and the same amount of blackberry wine annually. Although it requires a lot of effort and investment, it pays off, say the Pejić family.

- My wife works as a shop assistant, but her help in the orchard is invaluable. There is work to be done every day. I built a drip irrigation system, so we are not afraid of drought. We fear other weather calamities. Last year, we had enormous damage. A storm broke the seedlings, tore down the fence, and broke concrete poles. Our yield was only one-sixth of what we expected, but we did not give up, says Spomenko.

The Pejić family emphasizes that they have no problems with market placement. Customers recognize quality.

- Our products are natural, without sugar and preservatives, and due to the medicinal properties of aronia and blackberries, we sell everything we produce, Spomenko tells Info Bijeljina.