Although Kosovo has climatic conditions for the production of various agricultural crops, it imports the largest amount of them.
Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and apples - among the most consumed during the summer season - mostly come from abroad.
"For all of this, the conditions in Kosovo - whether climatic or soil - are favorable," says Imer Rusinovci, professor of Agriculture at the University of Pristina, to Radio Free Europe.
However, the market is import-oriented, due to the migration of citizens from rural areas, as well as the lack of interest in working the land, according to him.
The countries from which Kosovo imports include those of the region, the European Union and Turkey.
Radio Free Europe conducted an analysis of data for the four aforementioned products - compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development of Kosovo and Kosovo Customs.
The last ones available are for 2023.
When comparing tomato data over the last five years, it appears that its import had the highest value in 2023 - nearly 12 million euros.
The import value of peppers in 2023 and 2022 was similar - over five million euros, while the highest export value was last year.
With potatoes, meanwhile, exports exceeded imports only in 2020, while the value of imports remained the same in the previous two years - over 3 million euros.
When comparing the data of the last two years for apples, it appears that their import has increased by more than two million euros in 2023. Export, meanwhile, has remained at a few thousand euros.
In addition to these, Kosovo also imports large quantities of onions, cabbage, spinach, as well as plums, raspberries, pears and others.
Kosovo, for years, faces a high trade deficit, which means that it imports much more than it exports.
On average, it imports goods worth 5 billion euros per year - ranging from basic products to construction products - while exporting under 1 billion euros - mostly metal and plastic products.
