Even though Bosnia and Herzegovina has 100,000 hectares of orchards, 90% of farmers’ agricultural equipment is more than 20 years old, impacting the harvesting process’ efficiency and sustainability.

To help bring the nation’s farming practices into the 21st century, CNH’s Sustainable Development Initiatives division partnered with agricultural and farm equipment seller Case IH, importer Motoremont and Bosnian-based nonprofit Spektar. The collaboration focused on enhancing farmers’ productivity, encouraging greater ecological awareness and creating a healthier work environment

CNH and Case IH provided participating farmers with new tractors equipped with modern features like precision farming technology and access to an extended real-time kinematic network – a global positioning system – to enable smallholder farmers to guide their tractors with greater accuracy to map and manage crops. These tractors also include air-conditioned cabs with carbon filtration to prevent workers from breathing agricultural chemicals when spraying, while Motoremont provided information and aftersales support.

Likewise, Spektar developed high-quality training in agricultural chemical use, with a focus on sustainability, the effects on humans, animals and the environment, and reducing the risk of accidents. The partners also taught a cohort of university students about precision farming at a university lab expressly equipped for them.

As a result of this initiative, Daniela Ropolo, Head of Sustainable Development Initiatives, CNH, explained:

‘Thanks to the success of this project, many orchard owners’ practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina have become more productive, better align with digital technology and are more ecologically focused. I’m delighted CNH can contribute to solutions for meeting the enormous challenge of feeding and sheltering a growing global population.’

Going forward, CNH is building on the project’s achievements in Bosnia and Herzegovina and developing an even more ambitious version for farmers in Serbia.