DO YOU KNOW WHAT TREASURE IS HIDDEN IN THE JAPRA VALLEY?
The Japra Valley, located in the northwestern part of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, is one of the most significant mining and smelting complexes of ancient times.
It was established by the ancient Illyrian tribe, the Japodes, after whom Japra is named, over 2,000 years ago, and was further developed by the Romans. This area lies beneath the Grmeč mountain and stretches between the Sana and Una rivers, at an altitude ranging from 100 to 800 meters.
The valley boasts fertile land and a favorable climate, along with rich plant and animal life. It has natural conditions ideal for crop, livestock, and fruit production, as well as for the development of rural and fishing tourism. The hardworking people of this area established a cooperative aimed at increasing the income of the local population. The primary motivation was milk production, which serves as the basic and most vital source of income, but also the creation of alternative income sources, processing into final products, and educating the population for rural development.
The Agrojapra Agricultural Cooperative distributes its products in all well-stocked markets from Novi Grad to Bijeljina.
They are known for their stone-ground flours, including whole wheat, rye, and buckwheat, as well as their homemade cornmeal.
The Japra Valley also produces virgin pumpkin seed oil, cold-pressed sunflower oil, and pumpkin seed flour, along with apple chips.
The Japra River offers sport fishermen numerous fish species, such as huchen, trout, pike, barbel, chub, perch, and roach. Additionally, cooperative members contribute to the development of rural tourism.
Source: PZ Agrojapra / Photo: Milovan Antonić
