{"id":1275,"date":"2025-10-28T09:43:49","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T09:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/?p=1275"},"modified":"2025-10-28T10:00:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:00:54","slug":"study-visit-to-slovakia-advancing-irrigation-practices-and-agro-rural-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/study-visit-to-slovakia-advancing-irrigation-practices-and-agro-rural-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Visit to Slovakia: Advancing Irrigation Practices and Agro-Rural Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1275\" class=\"elementor elementor-1275\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e22a7d5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3e22a7d5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-994d5c9 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"994d5c9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5879f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d5879f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0022-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1276\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0022-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0022-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0022-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0022-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0022.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-014096e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"014096e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0024-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1278\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0024-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0024-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0024-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0024-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0024.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e48fa2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e48fa2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0023-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1277\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0023-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0023-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0023-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0023-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0023.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dbcfbe elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8dbcfbe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0028-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1282\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0028-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0028-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0028-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0028-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20251027-WA0028.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-409aa583 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"409aa583\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"246\" data-end=\"577\">As part of the <strong data-start=\"261\" data-end=\"277\">IRIS Project<\/strong>, a three-day study visit was organized from <strong data-start=\"322\" data-end=\"347\">13 to 15 October 2025<\/strong> in the <strong data-start=\"355\" data-end=\"410\">Bratislava and Nitra regions of the Slovak Republic<\/strong>, with the aim of promoting opportunities for the growth of commercial and semi-commercial agro-rural businesses through knowledge and practical experience exchange.<\/p><p data-start=\"579\" data-end=\"894\">The study program was facilitated by <strong data-start=\"616\" data-end=\"638\">Mr. Michal Bari\u010di\u010d<\/strong> from <em data-start=\"644\" data-end=\"671\">Be Grower s.r.o., Pezinok<\/em>, and brought together <strong data-start=\"694\" data-end=\"713\">12 participants<\/strong>, including <strong data-start=\"725\" data-end=\"891\">farmers, irrigation providers, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD), municipalities, and the IRIS Project team<\/strong>.<\/p><h4 data-start=\"896\" data-end=\"913\">\u00a0<\/h4><h4 data-start=\"896\" data-end=\"913\">Objectives<\/h4><p data-start=\"914\" data-end=\"1134\">The overall objective of the visit was to encourage the development of agro-rural businesses by exposing participants to successful models of sustainable agricultural water management. Specifically, the visit aimed to:<\/p><ul data-start=\"1135\" data-end=\"1452\"><li data-start=\"1135\" data-end=\"1305\"><p data-start=\"1137\" data-end=\"1305\">Expose farmers, irrigation providers, and institutional staff to <strong data-start=\"1202\" data-end=\"1227\">Slovak best practices<\/strong> in irrigation, sustainable horticulture, and agricultural water management;<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"1306\" data-end=\"1452\"><p data-start=\"1308\" data-end=\"1452\">Enhance <strong data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1367\">productivity, profitability, and sustainability<\/strong> in the irrigation sector through practical learning and institutional cooperation.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4 data-start=\"1454\" data-end=\"1471\">Activities<\/h4><p data-start=\"1472\" data-end=\"1656\">The program combined <strong data-start=\"1493\" data-end=\"1559\">field visits, academic discussions, and policy-level exchanges<\/strong>, all designed to provide participants with both theoretical insights and practical experience.<\/p><p data-start=\"1658\" data-end=\"1909\">Participants visited Slovak farms and research institutions where they learned firsthand about <strong data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"1782\">modern irrigation systems<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1784\" data-end=\"1813\">water-saving technologies<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"1819\" data-end=\"1854\">circular horticulture practices<\/strong> used in fruit, vegetable, and greenhouse production.<\/p><h4 data-start=\"1911\" data-end=\"1925\">Results<\/h4><p data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"2166\">The study visit provided a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration between Kosovo and Slovakia in the field of agricultural water management. Through this activity, participants achieved the following outcomes:<\/p><ul data-start=\"2167\" data-end=\"2575\"><li data-start=\"2167\" data-end=\"2266\"><p data-start=\"2169\" data-end=\"2266\">Improved understanding of <strong data-start=\"2195\" data-end=\"2247\">efficient irrigation and water-saving techniques<\/strong> in horticulture;<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"2267\" data-end=\"2387\"><p data-start=\"2269\" data-end=\"2387\">Enhanced knowledge of <strong data-start=\"2291\" data-end=\"2334\">Slovak government policies and programs<\/strong> supporting irrigation and sustainable agriculture;<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"2388\" data-end=\"2482\"><p data-start=\"2390\" data-end=\"2482\">Strengthened <strong data-start=\"2403\" data-end=\"2479\">cooperation among farmers, irrigation providers, and public institutions<\/strong>;<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"2483\" data-end=\"2575\"><p data-start=\"2485\" data-end=\"2575\">Exposure to <strong data-start=\"2497\" data-end=\"2572\">innovative irrigation system reconstruction and modernization practices<\/strong>.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"2577\" data-end=\"2781\">This initiative represents an important step toward building the capacities of Kosovo\u2019s irrigation sector and promoting sustainable agro-rural development through international cooperation and exchange.<\/p><p>The Slovak Republic, known for its well-organized irrigation networks and progressive approaches to agricultural sustainability, offers valuable experience for Kosovo. The study visit enabled participants to learn from Slovak farmers, irrigation experts, and institutions engaged in developing modern irrigation solutions. The activity was facilitated by Mr. Michal Baricic from Be Grower s.r.o., Pezinok.<\/p><p>The visit formed part of Component 2: Capacity Building to Increase Water Use Efficiency and Agricultural Productivity of the IRIS Project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD). It contributed to improving participants\u2019 understanding of advanced irrigation management, efficient water use, and sustainable agricultural practices.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As part of the IRIS Project, a three-day study visit was organized from 13 to 15 October 2025 in the Bratislava and Nitra regions of the Slovak Republic, with the aim of promoting opportunities for the growth of commercial and semi-commercial agro-rural businesses through knowledge and practical experience exchange. The study program was facilitated by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1284,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,61,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dokumente","category-lajme","category-publikime"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1275"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1293,"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275\/revisions\/1293"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris-ks.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}