TIRANA, Aug 16 /ATA/ Foreign markets are increasing demand for “Made in Albania” fruit, dominated by melon and watermelon, along with other products.
Despite COVID-19 pandemics, exports of Albanian agricultural products and fruit-vegetables in particular continue to see a two-digit growth.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Milva Ekonomi, said that, “in the export of fruits this 7-month period, the group” melon and watermelon” saw the largest increase.
“Their export in value increased 25,6 % compared to the previous year,” Ekonomi said.
Ekonomi also published a chart that, “in the period January-July 2020, the export of melon and watermelon was ALL 781 million. While in the period January-July 2021 the export of melon and watermelon amounted to 981 million ALL ”.
The increase in exports of agricultural products is attributed to investments made in the agricultural sector, especially for offseason growing through greenhouses that give Albania an advantage.
Albania boasts around 1700 ha of green houses and plastic tunnels for offseason growing of agricultural products.
Agriculture is among the sectors with the largest contribution to Gross Domestic Product, about 20%. In Albania 2013 saw about 125 thousand ha of cultivated land, while today it has expanded to 250 thousand ha of land.
Thanks to fiscal incentives and support schemes, the export of agricultural products has increased fourfold.
Agricultural exports have increased from about $ 100 million at the end of 2014 to $ 400 million at the end of 2020, and are projected to reach over $ 1 billion in the next four years. /j.p/sm/
