In recent months, the company “Rapic” has started with intensive activities in the direction of the establishment and further development of the new business unit “Revita Farms” in Prnjavor. We spoke with the commercial director of the company, Mr. Milan Rapić, about what kind of project it is, and what are its goals and expectations.

Farmofit: The company “Rapić” is the largest producer of animal feed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. How did you come to extend your business activities to the organization of intensive cattle fattening?

Rapić: The project of modern farm production has always been the strategic goal of the founder of the company “Rapic”. However, due to market, capacity, and life reasons, that idea has not been realized until this moment. At the same time, I am of the opinion that the schedule of our business activities and investments has always been very well organized, in such a way that we first established the largest warehouse for receiving grain in this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which additionally strengthened the agricultural sector of the northwestern part of the country. After that, we built the most modern animal feed factory in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized cooperation in the production of raw materials, won the largest part of the domestic market and finally stepped into the animal production sector ourselves. Put simply, we built a large “barn”, together with our people sowed cereals, made the highest quality “Farmofit” fodder from them, and finally provided the conditions for the application of our mixtures on our own farm.

Rapić: The project of modern farm production has always been the strategic goal of the founder of the company “Rapic”.

Farmofit: What are the capacities of the new business unit within the company “Rapic”?

Rapić: Business unit “Revita Farms” is located in Prnjavor, in the village of Lišnja. It is a modern beef fattening farm, recently built, which we have further improved in every respect. Currently, two modern facilities for housing and fattening cattle are in operation on the farm, with a total capacity of up to 550 head. Also, the farm has significant capacities for receiving, drying and storing grain, then with capacities for storing animal feed, adequate storage of silage, hay and other elements in animal nutrition. All production activities are carried out on our own and leased land, using our own professional mechanization and locally hired workforce. Currently, the farm has about 200 calves of superior genetics, imported from the European Union on two occasions. In terms of breed structure, the focus is on breeds such as Simmental, Angus and Belgian Blue cattle. In the following period, the available capacities will be filled. All activities on the farm are under the supervision of our best people, the animals are fed according to very precisely balanced recipes, which are designed for the aforementioned breeds of cattle. The excellent health status of each individual is imperative and rests on professional veterinary care and the principles of a “good host”.

Rapić: The farm has two modern facilities for housing and fattening cattle, with a total capacity of up to 550 head.

Farmofit: Why Revita Farms? Is there any deeper symbolism hidden behind the mentioned name?

Rapić: Considering that in our business we take into account the family approach, as well as the wishes, ideas and projects of our founders, who left an indelible mark in the agricultural sector of the wider area of Lijevča polje, we wanted to pay respect to them in this way. Namely, the “Farmofit” animal feed brand was originally called “Vitamix”. It was the first, own brand of the company “Rapic”, which was designed and launched on the market by the director at the time, Tihomir Rapić. Over time, “Vitamix” became “Farmofit”, but we have not forgotten the contribution of our predecessors, who worked with the primary goal of reviving agriculture in this region. Moreover, we continued further and even more strongly, towards the same goal. That’s why Vita is in Revita Farms. We only added the prefix “Re”, in order to further emphasize the aspiration towards an even stronger revitalization, both on the re-established farm and in the entire domestic agricultural sector.

Rapić: “Revita Farms” is the contribution of our generation to the ideas of our founders.

Farmofit: At a time of increasingly significant market instability, caused by global events, climate change and negative demographic trends, there are opinions that now is not the time for new investments. Especially in the agricultural sector. How do you see it?

Rapić: If we were to look back on the mentioned challenges, we would forever remain on the first step of our development, and over time we would be “jumped over” by those who saw a little further than the third step. However, thanks to the generational experience of our company, the abilities and assessments of our team, we made the decision to invest in farm production. Of course, the aforementioned decision was not made “overnight”, but is the result of several months of analysis, research, consultation of the best people and organizations from the observed sector, and most importantly – an assessment of the competencies of our team to tackle a completely new form of production. Fortunately, the company “Rapić” has been a manufacturing company for many years, and we are no strangers to such and similar activities. At the same time, it is important to emphasize that one of the most important factors in making the investment decision was the fact that we will have the opportunity to use our own “Farmofit” animal feed on our farm, and in that way prove the superiority of our mixtures on the domestic market. It is a true testament to the quality and relevance of what you do. Nowadays, such a rounded system of production and work in the agricultural sector can be seen as very innovative.

Farmofit: You mentioned innovation. Are there any novelties waiting for us in the “Farmofit” range of products in the coming period?

Rapić: Animal nutrition is a very “live” area, which requires constant nomination of new solutions. In this regard, our animal feed factory will soon launch a new product on the market, which is even, by nature, related to the activities we carry out on our own farm. It is a milk substitute for calves, which we called “ProteoFit”. Thanks to the superior composition of the mentioned product and its useful properties, we have no doubts at all about its applicability and the excellent results it will achieve on domestic farms.

Rapić: We expect the milk substitute “ProteoFit” to achieve top results on domestic farms.

Farmofit: At the end of the conversation, can you tell us what the goals of the company “Rapic” are in the coming period, and when it comes to commercial activities?

Rapić: The focus has always been and will be on the best possible positioning of “Farmofit” animal feed on the domestic market. Fortunately, we don’t have to prove our leadership position, because the results and information from the market speak for themselves. At the same time, we continue to strengthen our “service” approach to farmers, in such a way that, in addition to the highest quality fodder, we also provide them with other, most important inputs in production. These are mineral fertilizers, seeds and phytopharmaceuticals. It is also important to mention modern services and support, such as mediation in obtaining funds from the European Union for our subcontractors. In this regard, we have recently successfully implemented the intervention measure of the EU4Agri project, for the procurement and distribution of mineral fertilizers for autumn sowing at a part of our subcontractors. Finally, we should not forget the continuous advisory support for all our customers and partners, which is now additionally strengthened through our own farm, which will very quickly become an exemplary example of the organization of intensive beef fattening in the wider area of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All of the above, as well as numerous other activities that the company “Rapić” organizes, have always been and will be in the service of our mission: To provide strong foundations for the technologically sound and smooth business development of all our clients.

Rapić: We continue to strengthen our “service” approach to farmers.