Proud that no one thinks about abroad: The Salković family grows flowers and vegetables

In the fertile plain of Bijelo Polje, in Potkrajci, Amela i Sefudin Salković, with the help of their children, they persevere in growing flowers and vegetables.

Amela and Sefudin manage the entire growing process, from seeds, through seedlings to finished products, offering species that were previously unavailable in Bijelo Polje.

Since there is work in the greenhouses from January to October, the children help them. Three of them have completed their master's degrees, and the youngest, Iris, also comes to help.

"After many years of hardship and effort, our greatest pride is that, at least for now, no one is thinking about going abroad," Sefudin tells "Vijesti".

Although, as they say, they face unfair competition from resellers of imported goods, they emphasize that their main advantage is the freshness of the plant that grows in the same climate, which "guarantees better adaptability."

They say they work from "morning to night", often from 6 am until late at night during the season, but their property is a place where neighbors and fellow citizens like to come and socialize.

Salkovići is also known for producing vegetable seedlings...

And it wasn't always like that.

"Before this job, I was growing seedlings of peppers, cabbage, and other vegetables outdoors for about ten years. Then, around 2020, we built a 150-square-meter greenhouse and grew all the greenhouse vegetables from this region in cups," says Amela.

She explains that she was very suspicious when her husband, after two decades of working "behind the wheel", presented her with the idea that he wanted them to try their hand at growing flowers, about which she knew almost nothing.

"We started in modest circumstances, with a plot of about 50 square meters. We went into this business 'headfirst'. That's how we fared, because after a lot of hard work, we ended the year with barely anything," recalls Amela.

This was followed by days and months of getting to know and learning about all the details of successful vegetable production and horticulture.

"It wasn't easy to survive in this business, which no one in northern Montenegro is doing anymore, because it's much more profitable to buy the finished product outside of Montenegro and resell it, without worries and sleepless nights worrying about whether the flowers will freeze when the temperatures are low," Sefudin said.

The Salkovićs did not develop a sales network, but, as they say, they managed to sell their goods on their doorsteps through quality.

The Salković family says they still work using old farming methods, without special mechanization, except for one motor cultivator, and the situation is similar with heating greenhouses, for which there is no subsidy.

"In winter, we heat the greenhouses using calorifiers and heaters with thermostats. We monitor the temperature, but we make warm beds with metal rods that we cover with agrila (a type of fabric) and nylon. This way we protect them from low temperatures, and we also use heaters that create a 'bubble' in that space, protecting the plants," says Amela.

Among the seasonal and perennial flowers, the greenhouse shelves are adorned with various species: petunias, begonias, geraniums, surfinia, roses, violas, marigolds, carnations, dahlias, herbs, basil, lavender, frankincense, guinea fowl, alyssum, vinca, verbena, dipladenia, beautiful alder and others.

Right next to it are greenhouses with vegetable seedlings, ranging from the popular Somborka pepper, cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables, to watermelon.

The Salkovićs say they are also planning to expand the production of roses and some exotic plants, as well as strawberries.