Alliance for the Development and Promotion of Family Farming in the Northern Albania

The project has the purpose to increase the feed self-sufficiency and to support a sustainable socio-economic growth of rural communities living in the Northern part of Albania. Specifically, the intervention has the principal aim to promote the development of family farming by the enhancement of traditional knwoledges, of typical local productions, of women’s role and of an eco-friendly management of bucolic areas in the regions of Shkoder and Lezhe.

Funded by the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation, the project is implemented by a broad partnership of both Italian and Albanian entities, including RTM – Volontari nel Mondo, COSPE and the Italian region Emilia Romagna. The intervention cover a geographic zone going from the Zadrima’s plain, located between Shkoder and Lezhe, to the mountains of Vau-Dejes, Puke and Fushe Arrez, focusing on three priority sectors: the ovine and caprine supply chain, the biological agricolture and the bucolic tourism. Within a context characterized by limited dimensions of rurar enterprises, the project aspire to the strengthening of familiar businesses adopting an approach structured in different activities but collateral: education of veterinari and agronomic personnel, direct investments financed by the beneficiaries, education of local producers, Exchange and sharing of good practices with entities representing Italian excellences. A specific concentration is directed towards a sustainable economic development and towards the promotion of traditional productions, fields where the Region Emilia Romagna provides sources and skills thanks to the sustain to the upgrading of the mountain pasture areas, to the realization of a disciplinary of productions and to the creation of a specific brand for the chees of these mountain regions.

Until today, approximately 100 small familiar enterprises have obtained a technical and financial support, to which is important to add set of tens of specialists, who have benefited of education, Exchange od good practices and refresher trainings.