A demonstration garden in the Shkoder region to build farmers' knowledge on good MAPs cultivation practices and expose farmers to the performance of high-quality seedlings.
CNVP Albania is implementing the Local Economic Development Project (LED) with the financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in 6 regions in Albania, Tirana, Elbasan, Korca, Shkoder, Diber, and Berat. 

The LED project aims to increase the incomes of rural households involved in the production of MAPs (both households involved in wild collection and cultivation) by improving their access to technologies, inputs (including seeds & seedlings), information, and markets. 
One of the CNVP-LED’s objectives is to provide farmers with access to a broader range of productivity-enhancing MAPs inputs, particularly seedlings, fertilizers, and crop protection products (in particular organic ones). Increasing the variety and quality of inputs, particularly organic ones, available to MAPs producers is an important priority for the CNVP-LED project, particularly as the MAPs sector moves increasingly towards the organized cultivation of MAPs, and away from wild collection. Seedlings from high-quality seeds are more robust, produce uniform plants, resulting in higher yields, and ultimately higher prices and incomes for farmers. 
CNVP in partnership with Salvia Nord, an experienced producer of high-quality seeds and seedlings operating in Malesia e Madhe, Shkoder region established in 2010, is establishing a demonstration garden to promote and market seedlings to MAPs producers in the local area.

About 30 main MAP varieties that grow well in the Shkoder area will be planted in the demonstration garden. Farmers from Shkodra and other regions in Albania will be exposed to the performance of high-quality seedlings. The demonstration garden will also be used to build farmers' knowledge of good MAPs cultivation practices. Field days will be organized where farmers from the local area will be invited to participate in training focused on maximizing the growth and performance of the seedlings after planting.

Why a MAPs demonstration garden?

• To increase knowledge of local actors on what type of MAPs grow best in the region,
• To make quality planting material more accessible to MAPs farmers in the local area,
• To increase farmer knowledge on the good cultivation practices of MAPs,
• To generate more incomes and employment in rural areas by cultivating the most market demanded MAPs