Project title: Capacity Development Initiative- Value Chain in Fruits & Nuts

– Start date: 09/05/2016
– End date: 31/10/2018

Overall Objective:

To enhance the investments and economic performance of the fruits plantations through training of farmers and extension officers. SARED / ADAD- strategy for each of the 14 VG-Action Groups aiming at an independent status in Organizational and Coordinated market access.

Specific objective:
1. To improve the technology of cultivation of fruits and nuts, trainings and demonstrations mainly on modern technologies applicable in their conditions.
2. To strengthen cooperation between small farmers and organize the groups because knowledge and skills transfer in permanent groups is a better approach compared to individual capacity building or even capacity building in ad-hoc groups of small farmers.
3. To improve economic development by increasing performance in the value chain of fruits and nuts (farmers & groups) in the regions of Dibra, Korce and Kukes, selection of adequate expertise for the guarantee the transfer of skills with efficiency and effectiveness.
4. to promote the Role of producers and Involvement of various service addressing the producers’ needs, address value chain current and prospective needs, anticipate future development in the sector and upgrade their capacities by establishing joint group of experts (national and international, public and private).

Main results

– Evaluations, training needs and design the right approach of level of knowledge in order to match the needs of fruits growers.
– Improvement of fruits (apple, cherries,..) production technologies through training, raise incomes by this activity.
– Improvement quality of production and access better markets, including export.
– Increase of employment and ensure the continuity of the tradition of growing in this area.
– Best national and foreign expertise for more specialized topics, research, assist farmers and all actors in solving technology problems
– Groups of small farmers organized in production and market, more cooperation, more trust and commitment
– Increase production up to 30%, with more sustainable investments, more professional producers with clear visions
– Formalization of some economic groups, future development in the sector and information related to new export markets

Project Partners:
– Local and national partners: MARD. AREA, ATTC, UA…
– This project’s partners are ADAD, the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture, and Fert.
– Methodological and financial support from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Chamber of Agriculture, FranceAgriMer and from the Embassy of France in Tirana.