“VJEN”, operating in the Albanian market since 2005, is one of the biggest cattle breeding and dairy farms in Lushnje district in terms of production capacities and exports of dairy products. After years of operation, this cattle farm unit, one of the biggest in the country, aims to increase number of its cows to 1200 until end of this year, also thanks to the assistance provided by the government and the funds under the EU’s IPARD programme.
Prime Minister Rama, along with the Head of the EU Delegation to Albania, Ambassador, Luigi Soreca, and the Director of the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA), Frida Krifca, visited the farm which is currently expanding its activity by building new farm premises. “We are seeking to increase number of milk cows to over 1200, so that we can increase daily production. We currently produce 11 metric tonnes each day. Our farm’s the average litres of milk produced per cow is higher that of the EU. Our average litres per cow a year is 7600, up from 7500 litres per cow in the EU countries,” the entrepreneur said, whereas the new investment is designed to modernize the processes in the milking system for 600 dairy cows, meeting international EU standards.
ARDA Director announced that the campaign for the international support scheme for the agricultural and livestock production has been already launched and the applications are set to open on May 29. This year, the applications for assistance under the agricultural and livestock support programme will be filed online only via the web-based platform e-albania and the application process will conclude on June 19. “The support will mainly focus on livestock sector which needs more support, since agricultural exports have recorded an 11% growth this year,” Krifca said.
The next investment this farmer will implement is building a solar panel system. “We plan to invest in solar energy and we will install solar panels to generate energy, which in turn will be used to irrigate the land plots adjacent to the cattle farm, maximizing our production capacities and profits,” the farmer said, adding that thanks to the support he has been granted, he has invested in purchasing and employing state-of-the art cow milking technology. “This is the best cow milking machine and is known as rotary milking parlor. Some 36 cows are milked simultaneously. The system is supposed to milk 180 to 230 cows each hour. The machinery increases milking speed by 35% and this is not all about milking alone, but also about the information over each of our animals. Microchips will be implanted into each of our cows to provide real time information on what each of the animals is doing, the number of ruminations and the amount of milk each has produced. So, the investment doesn’t concern milking alone, but also information on each of the animals,” the farmer said.
PM Rama put emphasis on the need for the farmers to join their forces in order to make sure that work and profits are guaranteed. This idea was backed by the entrepreneur, who said: “Our farmer must understand that he won’t be successful by breeding 3 cows, because he would be lying to himself. It is impossible one can afford such an investment for ten cows only. It is time for the milk and milk and other dairy products are safe and nutritious as necessary food products.”
“This is the main problem, how to encourage smaller farmers change their mentality as they are really lying to themselves. Such farming models would encourage smaller farmers change their mentality and figure out that their small fragmented land plots won’t help in their efforts to increase productivity. They produce what they do produce and then complain they can’t sell their products. But how are you supposed to sell products if not part of a bigger circle and if no sale basis is provided and you are not forced to go to the market individually. You are part of a much bigger and longer chain sending locally-grown produces to a collection point, making direct sales. You have the contract, the seeds and this is what you will grow in your land. No matter what happens to the market, you will certainly receive your income. This is also the case when it comes to the milk. How can one possibly hope he would be successful with a farm of two cows and a pair of goats and pretending that the state would buy his products? Let alone safety of milk and dairy products which is horrible,” PM Rama said.
On his part, EU Ambassador Soreca noted that the IPARD scheme is working. “Despite the COVID-19 crisis, we are pleased to be here and happy to see our contribution is helping Albanian farmers to overcome this crisis. Here, behind our back you would see a high technology that will help Albanian farmers be more competitive and fully meet the EU standards, meaning that Albanian farmers will be able to export their products to the EU and beyond,” Soreca said.
