On 24-25 October 2018, CNVP Albania visited Kosovo with representatives from Kukes and Hasi municipalities of producer groups, Forest Associations and the Regional Federation. The group visited Agroproduct Company in Istog, as well as women’s producer groups in Peja and Podujeva.

The visit focused on how different actors in the value chains for non-timber forest products (medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), forest fruits/berries and honey) are organised, and how they generate income. Agroproduct is a good example; it offers long term contracts to participating MAP farmers which brings market security, quality and traceability. The manager of Agroproduct is eager to establish similar cooperation models in Albania e.g. Hasi.

The women’s producer groups in Peja and Podujeva were good examples on how women can be organised to cultivate, harvest, process and market honey, forest fruits/berries and MAPs. Both groups have been successfully supported by CNVP Kosovo to strengthen their organisational capacities, improve their marketing techniques, and increase their financial sustainability.

The visit to Kosovo was organized through the Sida-funded project Forests for Local Economic Development that is being implemented by CNVP Albania.