TIRANA, June 4/ATA/ 40 experts from the World Food Organization (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, representatives from different municipalities, donors and implementing partners discussed during a meeting in Tropoja about the creation of a sustainable chain of chestnut values in Albania and Kosovo.
The project consisted of scientific presentations by international and local experts, visits of the ground to chestnut forests and the newly established pest control laboratory, accompanied by the FAO team and renowned scientific researchers.
During the second day of the meeting, there were encouraged group discussions focused on the treatment of chestnut diseases and building cooperation with Kosovar counterparts. The participants also had the opportunity to visit the village of Markaj, where they observed the deployment of biological control agents and advanced silviculture practices for the protection of the chestnut.
In a press release, FAO said, “The meeting at the expert level provided valuable insights and practical demonstrations and also promoted cross-border cooperation and innovative techniques.”
The mountainous area of Tropoja has over 2,000 hectares of massive chestnut forest and 70% of the area’s residents provide economic income from this product.
The project “Sustainable development of the chestnut value chain” will last until 2025. The initiative aims to revitalize the chestnut value chain, including chestnut production, processing and marketing, with a focus on expanding cultivated areas and positioning of chestnut products in the regional market. /r.e/p.s./
