Pruning as a treatment for grapevine diseases

Rahovec, otherwise known as the "City of Grapes", is one of Kosovo's main grape-growing regions.

In this area, about 2.400 hectares are planted with grape vines, while at the national level, the planted area exceeds 3.000 hectares.

Farmer Labinot Shulina says he manages to produce up to 30.000 kilograms of grapes per year, while other farmers in Rahovec, according to him, manage to collect a total of up to 25 million kilograms of grapes.

To achieve high quantity and quality of grapes, it is necessary to carry out several treatments and continuous care for the grape vine throughout the year.

As a plant protection expert, the farmer explains the importance of winter pruning of the vine, a key process for increasing grape yield and quality. 

"We are now in a vineyard, where I am demonstrating grape vine pruning. Pruning is necessary to clean the vine and influence its yield. In my vineyards, I do not allow a grape vine to produce more than 2 kilograms, while in table varieties, where the most advanced technology is used and there is irrigation, a vine can reach up to 5-7 kilograms of grapes. However, this depends a lot on the conditions to produce high-quality grapes," says Shulina. 

"I am pruning the vine, as up to 98% of the shoots must be eliminated, which during the vegetation have contributed to the formation of nutrients for the vine through photosynthesis. Now, you are seeing many shoots, but I will eliminate them and leave only two or one per vine. Pruning must be done on time, because, if it is done late, when the soil fluids are in circulation, minerals are wasted and the vine weakens. Once pruning is done, the process of connecting the shoots and other stages of development begins," he adds. 

In this region, the climate is very favorable for the development of the vine, and it does not need many treatments, but, as Shulina emphasizes, it is important that treatments to prevent diseases are carried out on time.

"Grape vines have various diseases. Recently, it is a problem that appears not only in Kosovo, but also in other countries with viral and bacterial diseases. In this case, with the institute and the Ministry of Agriculture and the Municipality, we have taken several measures, recommending that treatments be carried out in a timely manner. Grape vines have several diseases such as grapevine blight, plasma..., grape rot, ash also causes problems, etc. Even in this vine that we are seeing, it is noticeable that ash has caused problems and we must eliminate these shoots. Before the grapes are harvested, the disease has attacked this vine. Everything must be taken in a timely manner," he emphasizes. 

In Rahovec, over 3.000 farmers receive subsidies from the municipality, while 1.600 of them are engaged in grape cultivation.

"It's the beginning of the year and our farmers have already started their agrotechnical work in the field such as pruning, plowing and preparations for the wine, etc. And we have opened a call for winegrowers, it is about the supply of preparations to combat insects in the grape vine. In recent years, farmers in Rahovec have been facing grape vine diseases, and we are trying to help them. Last year, we distributed artificial fertilizer. In addition to direct support, we have also helped farmers with infrastructure. We have 440 thousand euros in subsidies intended for the benefit of farmers in our municipality. We have allocated over 1 million for capital investments, we have divided the part of the subsidies into several sectors and the emphasis is on viticulture and vegetable growing", declares Berat Duraku, director of Agriculture in the Municipality of Rahovec.  

For 2025, the budget for the agricultural sector in Rahovec will be 1.5 million euros.