ALLIANCE FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT
AND PROMOTION
OF FAMILY FARMING
IN NORTHERN
ALBANIA
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The intervention takes place in Northern Albania, the most backward area of the country at a socio-economic and political level.
It focuses on 2 neighbouring rural areas:
- mountain areas of Fushe Arrez, Puke, and Vau i Dejes;
- plain of Zadrima.
Both areas are marked by a strong cultural identity. Agriculture is the main economic activity, based on the traditional small family business, characterised by the integration of agriculture and livestock and by structural difficulties in obtaining an adequate income from it.
This condition does not offer prospects to young people, favours emigration, and aggravates the condition of women, burdened by a strong patriarchal culture with most of the domestic and agricultural work.
Agricultural production is intended for self-consumption and informal trade, while access to formal markets is very limited. Rural tourism is also a highly unexplored asset.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- farms: 100
- veterinary agencies: 10
- rural women: 40
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The intervention takes place in Northern Albania, the most backward area of the country at a socio-economic and political level.
It focuses on 2 neighbouring rural areas:
- mountain areas of Fushe Arrez, Puke, and Vau i Dejes;
- plain of Zadrima.
Both areas are marked by a strong cultural identity. Agriculture is the main economic activity, based on the traditional small family business, characterised by the integration of agriculture and livestock and by structural difficulties in obtaining an adequate income from it.
This condition does not offer prospects to young people, favours emigration, and aggravates the condition of women, burdened by a strong patriarchal culture with most of the domestic and agricultural work.
Agricultural production is intended for self-consumption and informal trade, while access to formal markets is very limited. Rural tourism is also a highly unexplored asset.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- farms: 100
- veterinary agencies: 10
- rural women: 40
GOAL
The Project seeks to increase food sovereignty and support the sustainable socio-economic development of disadvantaged rural communities in Northern Albania. Namely, the intervention promotes the development of family farming through traditional know-how, typical local products, women’s work, and sustainable management of the rural territory in the regions of Shkoder and Lezha.
GOAL
The Project seeks to increase food sovereignty and support the sustainable socio-economic development of disadvantaged rural communities in Northern Albania. Namely, the intervention promotes the development of family farming through traditional know-how, typical local products, women’s work, and sustainable management of the rural territory in the regions of Shkoder and Lezha.
ACTIVITIES
The intervention adopts a supply chain approach. Starting from a strong support to family farms, the aim is to strengthen the capacities of and the connections between all the links and important actors in the agri-food chain: producers/ processors, retailers, consumers, local authorities.
Preparatory Activities
- Setting up of 4 Information Desks (1 per Municipality)
- Update of the mapping of the agricultural supply chains involved
- Establishment of the FSAF – Family Farming Development Fund, with 4 lines of funding:
- Mountain Areas – Line 1 “Farming” + Line 2 “Pastures”
- Plain Areas – Line 3 “Organic farming” + Line 4 “Rural tourism”
Intervention strategy (articulated on 4 axes)
Axis 1 – Mountain areas. It aims to increase the production capacity of family farms mainly active in the sheep-goat supply chain in the mountain areas of the Municipalities of Fushë Arrëz, Pukë, and Vau Dejës.
Axis 2 – Lowland areas. It aims to increase the production and accommodation capacity of family businesses mainly active in the fruit-vegetable chain and in rural tourism in the lowland areas of the Municipalities of Lezhë and Vau Dejës.
Axis 3 – Market. It aims to facilitate access to the market for agri-food products typical of the target areas.
Axis 4 – Rural women. It aims to raise awareness on the part of beneficiary communities regarding women’s role and potential in the rural economy through pilot initiatives
Impact of the project
- 80 family farms active in the sheep-goat supply chain in mountain areas and 20 family farms active in the fruit-vegetable supply chain and rural tourism will benefit from training and technical and financial assistance in the development of their activities.
- 40 family farms active in the sheep-goat supply chain in mountain areas and 10 family farms active in the fruit-vegetable supply chain and rural tourism will benefit from training and support in accessing other sources of funding.
- 10 veterinary agencies and 25 agricultural technicians operating in the target areas will benefit from training activities.
- 40 women living in the target areas will be involved in activities aimed at strengthening the role of women in rural entrepreneurship.
PROJECT MATERIALS
PARTNERS
Enti copromotori
- COOPERAZIONE PER LO SVILUPPO PAESI EMERGENTI – COSPE
- PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION – PFD
- WOMEN’S CENTRE “LIGHT STEPS” – HAPA TE LEHTE
Altri partner
- EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION – RER
- AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF BOLZANO-ALTO ADIGE – PRBZ
- UNIVERSITY OF MODENA AND REGGIO EMILIA – UNIMORE
- COOPERATIVE “VALLE DEI CAVALIERI” – VDC
- FORUM OF ALBANIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF EMILIA ROMAGNA – FARE
- VENETA ASSOCIATION OF ORGANIC PRODUCERS – A.VE.PRO.BI.
- INTERMUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF ZADRIMA – ICZ
Media Partner
DONORS
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