Coupling agriculture with craftsmanship to boost competitiveness

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DARTKE and its Serbian partner have been working on marketing handicraft products in the Hungarian-Serbian border region since 2007. The “AgroCraft” project aims at extending the already running “Handicraft” project, during which, the LB found that handicraft industry and local agriculture are closely related: 1. Masters of craft are mostly engaged in agriculture, too 2. The raw material of handicraft products is provided by small-scale agriculture 3. Agro-craft is a specific segment of agriculture, for example: honey wine, herbal teas, reed braids, homemade oils, etc. 4. Agro-craft products with handicraft packaging represent combined products with higher yields The combination of agriculture and handicraft is a specificity of the Hungarian-Serbian border region. The phrase “agro-craft” is used to indicate products that are produced on a small area, with lot of live work, products that are durable, storable, transportable, and marketable, and that are produced from agricultural products. However, most of the agro-craftsmen are not able to get their products on the market. As a result of this project: 1. We give a clear picture on the possible agro-craftsmen in the region; 2. develop a network with a common image; 3. Within this network, experiences are shared, and methods taken over, as well 4. new project ideas developed; 5. The strategy of getting the products to the market is established, and a system of product marketing is launched; 6. With the help of the propagation of the traditional professions, the capacity of manpower increases, new workplaces are established.

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