TIRANA, Sept  14 /ATA/ In addition to fresh vegetables and fruits, Albania has the potential to increase exports in other sub-sectors that include bovine hides, fish products, dried fruits, canned fish and canned olives.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announces that the most positive example in these years in terms of increasing production and exports has been the olive crop.

Olives have recorded the greatest increase in gross production and value in the last 10 years, both in terms of the expansion of the cultivated area, and the increase in yield and exports as a processed product, according to MoARD.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the value of olive production increased from USD 36 million in 2006 to USD 134 million in 2016 and to almost USD 147 million in 2020. Olives recorded the largest increase in value during the period 2016-2021, followed by eggs, tomatoes, corn and grapes.

Despite the increase in yield in some crops, Albania’s agricultural productivity continues to be much lower than that of its competitors in the main crops, so the Ministry of Education and Culture is working to increase production certification.

Meanwhile today in Albania, nearly 250 thousand ha of land are cultivated, from 125 thousand ha that were cultivated in 2013.

The support schemes launched by the government are aimed at increasing the quality of agricultural products, seeds and seedlings, but also at increasing collection and processing points, enabling the farmers to access other international markets.

While last year the government allocated a special fund for increasing the areas planted with olive trees, as well as improving the mechanism and increasing the olive oil production capacity.

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In 2020, Albania produced 131, 971 tons of olives marking an increase of 34.2% compared to a year ago. In 2019 Albania produced 98,003 tons of olives.

The highest level of olive production was recorded in the region of Fier with 35, 854 tons, followed by the regions of Berat with 33,082 tons and Elbasan with 22, 764 tons. Olive varieties for oil account for 82.2% of total production and olive varieties for table account for 17.7%.

Domestic olive production meets the needs of consumption in the domestic market and a significant part of this production goes to processing for olive oil.

Investments in olive oil processing industry have improved the quality and standards of this product, which is already in high demand on European markets.

Olive is among the oldest known cultivated trees in Albania. The govt.’s subsidies have delivered an impact on its cultivation and production.

Government subsidies are supporting farmers to expand olive grove surface areas, improve mechanization and increase olive oil production capacity. /a.a/sm/