CNVP - Sida field visit and annual meeting

On 19 March 2024, CNVP Albania organised a field visit and an annual meeting with Sida and some of the LED project experts and partners in Bilisht, and Maliq, Albania. The aim of the annual meeting was to share updates on the progress of LED project during 2023 to the Sida team which was represented by Ms. Petra Burcher, the Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana and Ms. Ermelinda Xhaja Programme Officer.

During the meeting the progress made for each project intervention was presented by CNVP intervention managers. Remarkable progress has been achieved during the past year some of which are:

Drying Technologies. Three innovative drying technologies have been introduced to the MAPs sector; all are run on clean renewable energy (solar and biomass) and are resulting in faster drying times, reductions in losses, improvements in MAPs quality, growth in incomes for businesses and households. More than 1800 households from the project regions have access to these technologies.

Mechanization. Continued facilitation of linkages between local MAPs exporters and international manufacturers of machinery and technology.

Inputs. 3 MAPs nurseries in the project regions have increased their production capacities and are investing in infrastructure to further improve the production techniques. More than 730 households have access to high quality MAPs seedlings.                         

Contract farming. 7 companies have entered into Contract farming agreements with total of 530 households, (35 last year) and this number keeps increasing.  

Standards and Certification. Improvements in market access for certified organic MAPs, sales have increased four-fold in the last 6 months. (almost 50% higher than prices for conventional MAPs), increased volumes sold (by 60 %) the sold quantity.

 Municipality level, policy and regulations. Strengthening Collaboration between National Forest Agency (MTE) and municipality and improving regulatory system for sustainable management of wild MPAs.

Ms Petra Burcher, congratulated CNVP Albania team for the progress done in all the project interventions and was happy to hear from LED project partners that the support provided through the Sida-funded project is having a significant positive impact on poverty reduction and bringing sustainable changes in the MAPs market system.

A field visit was organized at the premises of Shaholli company, a MAPs company from Bilisht that the project is partnering with, where an innovative drying facility for MAPs has been installed. This investment has expanded the capacities of the company to collect more production from the households (about 500) who are paid on time and enabled the company to secure the desired quantity and quality of MAPs as well as better prices. Another field visit was organized at the premises of Natural Herbs IEV in Maliq where a similar innovative drying facility is installed. This investment has enabled the company to collect bigger quantities of MAPs from the households of the area, dry them in optimal conditions and secure better incomes. Over 1000 households deliver fresh MAPs roots and berries especially to the company.

CNVP is committed to continue its support to the MAPs sector by promoting innovative approaches and technology.