Juggling apples and potatoes in Tirana, Albania
A case study taken from Oxfam's 2005 Programme Impact Report
The Drini Valley Herb Association, in Shkodra Region, Albania, now has more than 4,000 members. They collect medicinal herbs, forest fruits, and teas, and they have seen their cash income grow two to three times since the Association was established, less than two years ago. The business has created jobs in collecting, selecting, and processing produce, and in building, transporting, and marketing it.
The energy that members have put into organising all stages of the operation, and their ownership of the enterprise from the beginning, has been fundamental to their success.
A key to the Association’s success has been the creation of a stable supply of produce for traders. The energy that members have put into organising all stages of the operation, and their ownership of the enterprise from the beginning, has been fundamental to their success. A strong sense of community in the villages has brought women, men, and young people into activities.
Traditionally, women carry out most manual agricultural activities in Albania. Through this programme, they are now involved in jobs that earn income, such as working in the herb-processing unit. Men, on the other hand, are working as herb collectors, and are sharing in household duties when their wife is earning money outside the home. Women are less likely than men to be involved in advocacy activities at this stage, however.
The agricultural fairs that Oxfam has organised in Tirana have produced good immediate sales for producer groups from across the country, and have led to contracts being agreed. Last year, more than 40 per cent of participants were able to conclude a deal with wholesalers and traders in the capital. In October 2004 the agricultural fair was held, together with a Make Trade Fair concert, in the main square in Tirana. The solidarity between the citizens of Tirana and poor farmers from rural areas was evident. Thousands of people visited the fair, signed up for the ‘Big Noise’, and purchased goods. The Circus of Tirana took part in the concert, juggling with apples and potatoes. Hundreds of young people attended.
On the day when the fair opened, the Ministry of Agriculture invited Oxfam and farmers’ associations to speak at a forum about their experiences of organising farmers. Following this, regional discussion about farmers’ associations and co-operatives is being promoted through the Ministry’s annual plan for 2005.
Three regions of the country, Shkodra, Tirana, and Vlora, have now incorporated agricultural development priorities in their regional strategies. In Shkodra, the strategy includes priorities raised by the Rural Forum, which Oxfam has promoted. The Drini Valley Herb Association was presented in the Shkodra Region’s 2015 strategy document as a model of farmers’ organisation. In Tirana and Vlora, Oxfam has been invited by the regional councils to help them to develop strategies for reaching the Millennium Development Goals.
Poor infrastructure within Albania threatens the success of poor farmers’ enterprises. Inadequate roads increase costs, and an unstable electricity supply means that processing technology cannot be introduced in many areas.
Poor infrastructure within Albania threatens the success of poor farmers’ enterprises. Inadequate roads increase marketing costs, and an unstable electricity supply means that processing technology cannot be introduced in many areas. There is the need for strong national policies in favour of the development of small-scale agriculture, protection for small-scale producers as markets become more open, and good access to business advice and market analysis to support the development of their enterprises. Stronger advocacy at EU level is also required.
The total costs of all programme strategies since 2002 are about £365,000. Taking a figure of 20,000 people being directly reached, this would amount to about £18 per person over three years. Taking the Drini Valley Herb Association project alone, it is calculated that the cost per person benefiting is about £5 over the three years. The advocacy and campaigning work is contributing to benefits on a wider scale. Modest initial investments have been made in this programme for the results achieved, and many associations have invested part of their profits to improve irrigation, water or health clinic facilities, broadening the impact to communities.