The newest agricultural information centre Agropika was opened in Tirana today, one of 20 centres already launched in several cities around the country, designed as a window dedicated to farmers who wish to invest in agriculture and rural development or be informed about the latest developments in the agricultural sector.
Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the inauguration ceremony of the new Agropika centre that will assist and recommend Tirana farmers what to grow, identify possible products, identify markets and their demands and possible contractual arrangements, as well as assist them during application process under the agriculture support schemes.
The Director of the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA) Frida Krifca said that some 36 000 farmer households operate in whole area will be provided assistance and consultancy services at the new centre. “This is the new Agropika centre in Tirana that has been recently renovated under a state budget funding to offer a window of service and information to the farmers in Tirana district. The new centre will provide services to around 36,000 farmer families in Tirana district. This is the info-application room, with applicants filing their demands and applications for information on the support scheme offered either under the IPARD program or by various donors’ program we offer as ARDA. This office helps and assists farmers by providing information on what to grow and the market demands. The application is filed online without the need of presenting supporting documentation. Same format will remain in place until 2019, when farmers will then be able to apply via an ID or the Unique Identification Number.”
ARDA has hired four excellent students at the new Agropika centre under the recent Pact for the University. “Dola is an excellent student. It her first day of work at ARDA and she works specialist at ARDA’s legal department,” Krifca said.
“I have been recruited via the online ‘Good Work’ platform after being picked as one of the best performing students, who have been offered to gain and build up work experience at the state administration. I am here to closely look at the application’s initial process,” the youngest Agropika employee said.
Beneficiary farmers under the agriculture support scheme a year ago are the most frequent visitors to the newly opened information centre. “I am a farmer from the Administrative Unit of Kashar. In 2018 I benefited grants to plant a new one-ha olive grove and drop irrigation. I am seeking to expand investment in agriculture and I am here to receive some information.”
ARDA head Frida Krifca explained that this year’s support scheme will provide funding for sectors and varieties that are not included in the IPARD program. “We will support beekeeping, livestock, milk production, and cultures that are not supported by the IPARD program, as this year we had a margin that we should not overlap the IPARD program, especially the state budget-funded investments. Focus should have been placed on direct small schemes. The Council of Ministers’ decision was adopted on Wednesday and work is underway on the new directive, which is set to be approved soon so that we can launch first call for applications under the national scheme to support agricultural and rural development.”
State budget has allocated a funding to support the country’s agriculture sector in addition to the under the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD II). “This year, we will cover around 25% of the total amount of 50.3 million euros, plus the 2019 national scheme estimated at around 4 million euros, plus the 100 Villages Program which, although it is not a direct support to farmers, is an investment to upgrade infrastructure of selected villages and support rural development,” ARDA Director said.
Meanwhile, the government head noted that the available funding is estimated at around 65 million euros and allocation will depend on application capacities.
Speaking about ways how to benefit a funding, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture explained: “The IPARD program requires that applications are filed for land areas over 0.5 hectares. Every farmer is entitled to apply for funding and grants under the IPARD program. Secondly, we have been focusing on livestock as a sector that is not included in the IPARD program.”
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Dorel and Kelvin have a 10-year experience in flower growing and selling business. In a bid to meet the constant demand from the small farmers in the area of Berxulle, Tirana, the two decided to invest in building a greenhouse for nursery seedlings, especially for tomato seedlings. Dorel has applied and is one of the beneficiaries under the 2018 National Guarantee Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development. He has benefited a grant of 10 million lek for construction of a solar greenhouse.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, along with the Director of the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency Rural Frida Krifca visited Dorel’s one-ha greenhouse for growing saplings. The newly-built greenhouse meets highest modern standards with automated processes, including fertilizing, insecticides spraying and drop irrigation.
Dorel says growing seedlings is crucially important to the locak farmers as his greenhouse is the only seedling nursery in the area. “We grow seedlings in here and they are then supplied to local farmers. Unlike other regions like Fier and Lushnja, no seedling nurseries are to be found in this area and our investment is a great support to local farmers in terms of guiding and recommending them what to grow. The greenhouse covers a surface of over one hectare and it employs Italian technology. We have hired some 20 local residents. We are automating all processes in the greenhouse, including irrigation system.”
Speaking about ways how farmers could benefit a funding during the program’s first stage, ARDA Director Frida Krifca explained: “We have calculated a disqualification margin of 50%, so if we were to consider the allocated amount of 50.3 million euros it supposed that around 25 million euros can be absorbed in projects during the first call. However, this is a process that remains to be seen as farmers have yet to be informed over the application procedures and consultants lack experience regarding technical issues.”
Meanwhile, the Premier noted that farmers should always bear in mind that agriculture is closely related to the market and as such agricultural products should meet the market demands. “What we can affirm is that whoever really wishes to work and invest in agriculture, presents a good project and learns how to apply would receive grants under the funding made available by the government and the European Union. “Of course, as we discussed earlier, the essence is that farmers should know that agriculture depends on the market. It is impossible for everyone to cultivate a fragmented plot and grow whatever he wants without knowing the market demands and then complain why he can’t sell his produce. It takes know-how and farmers should come together in joint ventures. There is a number of such successful joint ventures around the country. When many farmers have done so, the others should follow the lead. Moreover, nobody would receive a single penny under the European Commission-funded programs if you are not registered and are not supplied a Unique Identification Number and you lack a business plan. This is the only way to benefit. We can’t invent other ways. Situations can change should people change.”
