Bosnia and Herzegovina can profit millions annually from cultivating medicinal immortelle

Bosnia and Herzegovina exported products from the medicinal plant immortelle in 2013, with a value exceeding 2 million BAM, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

By export value from Herzegovina, immortelle last year was on par with new potatoes and green salad. Experts say this Mediterranean wild plant has anti-inflammatory effects, helps with bloating, liver and gallbladder diseases, and is also useful for inhalation in respiratory tract issues. Its products are increasingly in demand worldwide. Herzegovinian immortelle is especially valued, particularly among demanding buyers in Europe and America.

Prof. Dr. Nezir Tanović from the Agromediterranean Faculty in Mostar says Herzegovina already has several plantations sown with immortelle, but the potential is very large and the country should exploit it as soon as possible.

- When it comes to our country, immortelle can only thrive in Herzegovina. It is a medicinal plant that can bring huge material profit to the state annually – explained Professor Tanović for Patria.

Due to high demand, the quantities of wild immortelle in BiH are rapidly decreasing, so the RS recently adopted a decision to completely ban the collection of this plant from nature.

Using seeds from nature, domestic producers have managed to plant over 40 hectares of immortelle over several years, despite high production costs. The goal is to restore the natural resources of this plant over the next five years, gradually transitioning to the use of cultivated immortelle.

In order to increase the production and exploitation of this medicinal plant, the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH and the USAID/Sida FARMA project will organize a round table titled „Immortelle in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ on July 2 at the premises of the FTCC BiH.

- This round table will help connect all interest groups in the production and processing of immortelle and inform the public about this exceptional plant, which has already become a significant driver of local development in Herzegovina, particularly interesting for engaging women in rural areas – say the FTCC BiH, writes Patria.