Since 2002, the Municipality of Ulcinj has steadily increased its financial support for agricultural activities, particularly olive farming. Initially allocating €7,000 for the sector’s development, the municipality has expanded its investment year after year, recognizing the critical role of olive cultivation in the region’s economy.
The Strategic Development Plan of Ulcinj acknowledges olive farming as a historically significant agricultural sector, serving as a vital source of income for its residents. This recognition comes at a crucial time, as nearly one-third of the olive groves along Montenegro’s coastline have been lost over the years. Despite this, Ulcinj remains home to approximately 86,000 centuries-old olive trees, which hold immense ecological, cultural, historical, and economic value.
The importance of this sector is also emphasized by Montenegro’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which has been actively supporting local olive farming through the Agrobudget for the past seven years.
Through this initiative, beneficiaries can receive grants covering up to 50% of their investment costs. These funds can be used for planting new saplings, purchasing equipment for olive oil storage, managing plant waste, and constructing retaining walls to prevent soil erosion. For the cultivation of previously uncultivated land for olive planting, the grant support increases to 60%, while the revitalization of existing olive groves is subsidized at a rate of €7 per rejuvenated tree.
Additionally, investments are supported for expanding new plantations, better utilizing old ones, and maintaining and increasing production capacity. Support for procuring olive cultivation equipment aims to modernize production, with a particular emphasis on cultivating previously unused land and improving existing olive groves.
Such support is even more crucial in a situation where the indigenous olive variety, Vajuku, has been experiencing low yields for three consecutive years, or when olive growers' investments surpass the revenue they generate.
"The efforts of our ancestors, their love and persistence, can still be seen today. This should serve as motivation for us to preserve, nurture, and protect this unique landscape and our tradition," says environmental activist Zenepa Lika.
As she points out, precisely because there has been no construction, because it remains pure, original, and authentic, both local and foreign visitors are captivated by walking through the olive groves. "This is a unique offer for tourists that, if we continue like this, we risk losing forever," she adds.
With the existing work ethic of the local population, new plantations, and stronger support from local and national authorities, Ulcinj’s olive farming could experience a true revival, transforming into a powerful industry and a sustainable economic venture.
On these quantitative and qualitative foundations, opportunities would arise to further develop olive tourism as a new dimension of our tourism economy.
This text was created as part of the project "Olive Tourism – A New Feature in the Tourism Offer," promoting and supporting the sustainable development of Ulcinj. The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Media through the Fund for Promoting Pluralism and Media Diversity. The content of this text is the sole responsibility of the NGO "Ul info" and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry.