The meeting focused on family farms and actions to contribute to a world of zero hunger and no poverty, where natural resources are managed sustainably, and where no one is left behind.

In her remarks, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Frida Krifca, focused on importance of family farms, not only as an important part of agriculture, but also in socio-economic terms. Speaking about the structure of Albanian farms, the ownership of smallholder farms, their average size of 1.2 ha, with distinguishing features in different regions, and where currently 60 thousand farms operate in the market, the minister underlined the importance and weight of family farms in total agricultural and livestock production in Albania. “Some of them have the potential to further increase productivity and their economic income. In addition to economic dimension, they represent an important source for social and environmental development, ” said Minister Krifca, adding that through development policies, programs and tools for implementation the ministry focuses on supporting family farms, approaches oriented towards potential markets with growing demand for organic and certified products.

FAO Representative in Albania, Arben Kipi, thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for cooperation in organizing the event in the framework of the UN program launched two years ago for family farms.

“Family farms are the dominant profile of Albanian agriculture and play a key role in development of green agriculture, traditional, organic Albanian products, forming the basis for development of agritourism, which is high in demand,” said Kipi .

The representative of GIZ, a sustainable partner of the Ministry in development of agritourism and family farms, Sofiola Kotelli, spoke about the intensification of cooperation with the Ministry in all other components of the sustainable development project, putting the emphasis on cooperation with FAO in actions towards support for family farms, as key components of the agricultural economy, not only as part of agricultural activity, but also of other activities such as diversification of economic activity in the village.
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