Fier Policy forum on Europeanization of the agriculture and rural development in Albania

On 23 September 2010, EMA hold on the second policy forum in Fier, organized in the framework of the project “Europeanization of the agriculture and rural development in Albania” supported by European Fund for Balkans (EFB). During this forum, the key findings of a study prepared by the EMA’s research team were presented and discussed with the audience.

The study despite addressing the main problems of rural and agricultural development provides a set of concrete recommendation to help the actors engaged in these areas.

 The guest speakers in the event included: Mr. Ethem Bidaj, Head of KASH branch in Fier, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Zydi Teqja, expert of agriculture and Mr. Florian Xhafa, expert of rural development. Mr. Bidaj during his presentation pointed out the importance of Fieri district as one of the big rural areas in Albania and based on this latter, he emphasized the potential development opportunities that this district have. Mr. Teqja, through statistics on the size that agriculture occupies in the GDP and based on the composition of Albanian society confirmed the importance of rural and agriculture development in Albania. He oriented his speech on two main aspects: what was achieved and what are remaining problems that rural and agriculture sector is facing. The Instrument of Pre Accession (IPA), mainly its fifth component Rural Development (IPARD) was in the focused of Mr. Xhafa presentation, who shared with the audience the practical tools and options how to profit from the EU pre accession funds.

The forum was attended by representatives from local authorities (Agriculture Department at Fier Region Council, Regional Directorate of Agriculture, Food, and Consumer Protection), interest groups (Albanian Agribusiness Council of the region, head of Communes of the region, university’s lecturers) and experts, who discussed on the main problems of Albanian rural and agriculture development.