Diakonia Agapes, the social office for development and emergencies of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, is implementing during the period 2011 – December 2013 the program, “Strengthening the Farmers in the Area of Shpati”. This project is made possible by the financial support of Dorcas Aid International Albania, and aims to improve the living conditions for families in the Municipalities of Shushica, Gjinar and Zavalina, through the development of sustainable agricultural businesses.
    The aim of this project is for the farmers to offer the most qualified and competitive products in the market, as a result of knowledge gained by participation in trainings, and implementing in their farms modern methods and technology realized from initial capital received from the activity of the project.
     For the first four months of 2013, Diakonia Agapes worked for the implementation of the project in the village of Polis, the Municipality of Shushica, and in the second half of the year has been working in the Municipality of Zavalina. Some of the achievements during the first six months of the implementation of the project are related to 15 farmers who have more to do with the agricultural activity and 15 other farmers that are concentrated in the farming activities. So, 15 farmers from the village of Polis, in the Municipality of Shushica, received five agricultural training, learning more about the cultivation of fruit trees and the olive trees, through topics linked with the establishment of new orchards, pruning the fruit trees, the agro technical services of the olive, the protection of the olive from different diseases, as well as the cultivation of the plums, cherries and how to safeguard them.
    The 30 farmers participated in three agricultural marketing trainings, for techniques regarding sales and starting a business, which will help in knowing how to deliver and sell the products. Of special importance has been the involvement of the farmers in the practical demonstrations conducted in the fruit tree orchards, as well as at the livestock breeding farms, where the participants had the opportunity to see examples of the themes developed in theory. Also, information and the technical assistance for the farmers of this area is offered regularly through the regional office of Diakonia Agapes in Gjinar and Shushicë, where agriculture and livestock specialists have provided solutions to the problems faced on the farms.
     After the completion of the series of the trainings, in the village of Polis eleven farmers were selected and supported for the implementation of their initiatives in farming, and four others are in the application process.
    The second cycle of trainings began in the beginning of May and the agriculture and livestock project will continue with with 30 other farmers from the Municipality of Zavalina.
 
Blendi Kaso