New Horticentar to support Macedonian horticulture
An entire company including offices, a warehouse and an 800 m2 sized greenhouse, which is divided into 3 departments and is equipped with multiple modern techniques, is situated near Sveti Nikole in Macedonia. This is the new Horticentar which opened officially last week. The company with its training-, and education centre, has a goal to become a provider of techniques and knowledge for the regional horticultural sector. The project is developed by Aleksandar Stojkov of Balkan Greenhouse in cooperation with KG Greenhouses. "In the past, Macedonia was the main horticultural area of Yugoslavia", says co-initiator Bernardo Greeve of KG Greenhouse. For several years he has been visiting the Balkan and became familiar with the horticulture sector in Sojkov. "This region has undergone many changes, it was isolated for a long time. In the horticulture sector there is a lack of knowledge, but there are also opportunities."
This does not only count for Macedonia, but also for more countries in the Balkan. Therefore, there is also a large interest in the new Horticentar from the surrounding countries, like Servia, Kosovo, Bulgaria and Albania. Students from the entire Balkan are invited to the Horticentar and will be educated. "A whole new world opens up for them. The majority of the students have never seen a modern greenhouse", says Greeve. However, growers are also interested. They can sign up for cultivation assistance and other advice. "The demand for knowledge and ways to apply techniques is high. We show them the possibilities"
The greenhouse is 6.5 meters high and is divided into three departments. Vegetables will be grown in two departments and in the third growing tables of KG systems will be placed. The greenhouse is equipped with cultivation gutters, heating and heating tubes. The greenhouse will be heated by a wood burner and solar panels.
Trading company
As well as a training centre, the centre is also a trading company that will supply the entire region. In total, nine Dutch companies are involved in this project. The products vary from cultivation techniques to entire turn key projects of high-, and mid-tech greenhouses. Horticentar is also a service supplier. "We have a team of people and machines to build and maintain greenhouses." Moreover, the center is also used to educate regional staff.
The greenhouse is built by KG Greenhouses.
Cooperations
According to Greeve the country offers many positive features and he sees many international possibilities. He also sees ways to offer support to local growers. According to Greeve, many small adjustments can improve the cultivation process drastically. But also the cooperations that come into existence are important. "A couple of weeks ago, a Macedonian group visited the Netherlands. Via the Horticentar and the Vilentum college in the Netherlands, connections are made that lead to an exchange. Then, everything comes together. These are nice cooperations."
Horticentar is developed by KG Greenhouses & Balkan Greenhouse. At the moment there is a cooperation with Royal Brinkman, van Iperen, Van der Knaap Substraten, Relab den Haan, Aardbei-Extra, Hortus Supplies, Hogeschool Vilentom and Syngenta. The combination of these companies enables Hortventar to offer a broad pallet of knowledge and techniques.
For more information:
KG Greenhouses
Tel. 010 - 5212644
Fax. 010 - 5217893
www.kggreenhouses.nl
www.horticentar.mk