Financed by BMZ (German Ministry of Economic Cooperation), the GTZ Program aims to provide support for the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food in the process of transformation of agriculture, food sector and that of the rural areas aiming at EU approximation and integration into the Balkan region. This transformation process is an important issue for the Albanian Government in the context of overall economic development of the country. The Program contributes to transformation of the above - mentioned sectors into more profitable and competitive ones.

"First steps of an EU-oriented Agriculture Policy, included its second pillar rural Development - are implemented in the process of association".

The project is focused in advising and support:

• Albanian actors in the EU- approximation process through an intensive dialog with German and other European institutions. First of all through knowledge transfer on EU political actions and instruments and their adoption in Albanian conditions in order to increase the competitiveness of agriculture and food sector and for developing the rural areas,
• Albanian partners in strengthening the regional and cross border cooperation, establishing a network of respective partner institutions of other countries in the Balkans region,
• Sector initiatives in selected fields as fruits and vegetables, wine etc. in organization, legal and technical issues aiming an improved marketing of quality products,
• Improvement of the market transparencies will be supported through Market Information System (MIS),
• Capacity building of the staff of partner organizations through training activities and international exchange especially making use of technical competence of the Agriculture University of Tirana (AUT),
• Exchange with SOE-countries in the region, establishment of a networking regarding the EU-approximation (working groups among partners in different fields as policy, legislation, FTA-implementation, farm management, exchange of data, quality standards, veterinary and food safety etc).

Target groups, intermediates and partners in the country are:

• Decision makers of MoAF and the staff of its regional structures,
• The owners of SME-s in Agriculture and Food sector and outside these sectors and their families,
• Federations, Agencies for economic support, Chambers, Professional organizations which are involved in the process of the structural approximation.
  

Staff

• Roland Çela - Program Director
• Elda Çeribashi - Office Administrator
• Erald Lamja - Marketing Consultant

Publications

Market Information System for fresh fruits and vegetables in Albania, 2003.

Evaluation results of MIS, May - October 2002

Map of fruits and vegetables potencial production in some areas of Albania - year 2003.

Establishment of a Market Infromation System in Albania.

EU norms and standards for sweet melon, water melon and cucumber trade.

EU norms and standards for cabagge, cauliflower and carrot trade.

EU norms and standards for eggplant, pumpkin and potatoe.

Cultivation of Kultivimi i cabagge, cauliflower and broccoli..

Cultivation of Potatoes.

Annual Report of MoAF.

Agriculture and Foot Strategy.