TIRANA, October 11 /ATA/ Albania has several autochthonous crops which still grow in a wild state, unaffected by the human hand.
Agricultural experts say that nuts (walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts), mountain tea, blueberries and medicinal plants in Albania are largely unique and there is always a guaranteed market with increasing value.
Many of these plants grow in a wild way in nature, but these ‘mountain’ varieties can also be cultivated in the field, being highly on demand by international markets.
Local and foreign agricultural experts, supported by the French Embassy in Albania, are working on commercial walnut marketing in potential areas of the country such as Dibra, Kukës, and Tropoja and are also developing pilot projects for its wider cultivation.
They undertook a 2-day study on commercial walnut production in these regions of the country, with the aim of developing this sector for export as well.
During the first day of the study visit, the participants had the opportunity to closely observe the complete production cycle of walnut for marketing, the characteristics of the main growers, cultural practices, harvesting, and especially the post-harvest operations (washing, cleaning, drying and calibrating).
Pascal Gouget, owner of the business, and Patrick Heinemann answered a number of questions from the participants on various aspects of the walnut business, as they asserted that the cultivation of the walnut plant will soon be profitable. Experts believe that an indigenous variety of walnut has a future. “But, first those interested in this business must create the complete structure for its trading and processing”, they said.
Walnuts are a good source of income for farmers in the north of the country who have little land under management. Walnuts grow in poor soils; do not require much water and their fruits are expensive. The initiative to plant walnuts has recently been supported by the government’s subsidy policies. In Shijak, Librazhd, Elbasan, Durrës, Tirana, with the support of the Albanian Agency for Rural Development, farmers have returned to planting walnuts.
The Albanian market is supplied in the extent of 70% by local production. While the confectionery industry is supplied 100% by import, as well as the nuts sold in packages come from the import.
Experts estimate that the production of walnuts is not sufficient to meet local demand, although there is potential. According to them, there is no commercial production of the nut since this production is created by collectors and not by farmers, who spend little or no resources to care for and improve the plants. The introduction of post-harvest handling, selection, and packaging according to market requirements would be key to facilitate the sale of locally produced nuts in the markets.
“In particular, the organization of the collection of nuts is necessary to convince the big traders to get supplied from local suppliers. Imported walnuts are also competitive in terms of product uniformity, packaging and supply system”, the experts said./j.p/r.e/p.s./
