On the 2nd of July 2014 at 10:30 near the village of Malo Konjari officially was opened the second season of the "Grow More Corn" initiative implemented by the Center for Development of Pelagonija region with support from the USAID Small Businesses Expansion Project.
On this event attended representatives of U.S. Embassy in Macedonia, Mr. Ryan Stoner - Director of sectors of economy and politics in the U.S. Embassy, representatives from USAID Small Businesses Expansion Project, Mayors from municipalities of Dolneni and Krivogashtani, representatives from Center for development of Pelagonija region, National Extension Agency and farmers from the region. For this occasion was organized visit to the field with installed drip irrigation system for corn near the village of Malo Konjari to present the initiative "Grow More Corn" where installation of drip irrigation systems on corn fields significantly increases yields and incomes of farmers. This initiative started last year and so far 60 drip irrigation systems has been installed on pilot plots in Pelagonija which marked the beginning of new approach in irrigating the corn fields in Pelagonija region. Based on the results of last year and the success of the project where some farmers doubled the yields on their corn fields, the Ministry of agriculture, forestry and water economy for the first time published a measure for purchasing drip irrigation systems for corn, which farmers of Pelagonija region already applied for such equipment for more than 50 hectares. In addition to this event the delegation of USAID visited field with greenhouses on peppers which were donated within the LEADER project, whose implementation is also supported by USAID. By setting the greenhouses on pepper fileds, farmers are able to protect their production from external influences, to control humidity which improves the quality and increases the quantity of production of pepper.
