Bio-diversity

The northern part of Albania has some of the lowest income per capita in the country. Traditionally the agricultural land has been cultivated with corn, potatoes and some fruit orchards that were consumed locally or distributed elsewhere in the conditions of the centralized economy and frequently under heavy subsidies from the state. The cessation of government subsidies, opening up of the local economy towards exports from the neighboring countries and distance from the main markets has made the cultivation of these products economically not feasible. At the present, locals practice only subsistence agriculture for personal and family consumption only. Collection of medicinal plants represents one of the main income generation activities for the remote mountain communities in Albania. Collection is often made in unsustainable way by over harvesting the wild plant populations. Frequently women are involved in this activity that is physically demanding and at the same time keeps them away from house and education activities that they would otherwise be involved. This project will cultivate 5500 m2 of combined primrose and gentiana plants in land plots of 5 local farmers. It is expected that the primrose (Primula sp.) will give the first crop during the first year and is expected to stay in production for at least 8 years. The other plant (gentiana) enters in production on the 3d year.

Albania