On 25 June 2018, Janaq Male (CNVP Albania country director) and Almira Xhembulla (member of the Albanian Parliament and an ex-CNVP staff member) met with Deputy Prime minister Ms. Senida Mesi to discuss the organisation’s work on sustainable natural resource management and rural development.

CNVP Albania explained that it had established, organized and strengthened 24 producer groups throughout Albania, successfully supporting: the chestnut association in Shkodra region; the cultivation of forest fruits in Hasi/Kukes region; the cultivation of medicinal plants in Dibra; the processing of forest fruits in Elbasan; the cultivation of mountain tea and collection of mushrooms in Korca; and the collection of wild sage in Gjrokastra.

Ms Mesi said that she appreciated CNVP’s work in supporting local government, local organizations, producer groups and rural communities through its training, seminars, fairs, buyer-seller meetings and exchange visits. She showed particular interest in CNVP’s support for women’s producer groups that are involved in the collection and cultivation of medicinal plants, forest fruits and nuts as a way of contributing to women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in rural areas. The new products introduced in the different regions offer additional financial benefits to those gained from traditional agriculture crops.

Discussion also addressed challenges and difficulties encountered in the field; for example, lack of trust among farmers concerning formalized producer groups, fiscal barriers and informal/unsecured markets. Lack of infrastructure facilities and equipment for harvesting, storing, processing and packaging local products are also weak points that need to be addressed through (a) a comprehensive and coordinated approach, as well as (b) collaboration between central and local Government, the donor community and civil society.

Ms. Mesi asked CNVP to extend the models discussed to other areas, villages and municipalities in Albania. She also said that government supports such approaches through its different programmes e.g. rural development, agro-tourism and 100 touristic villages, as well as fiscal support for formal producers’ groups.

CNVP’s activities in Albania have been supported financially by the Swedish government through implementation of the Forests for Local Economic Development project