TIRANA, November 30/ATA/ There is work underway in Pogradec to promote planting of three typical Albanian grape varieties as part of the Typic-al project: White Serine, Muskat Kanell, and Gems.
The TYPIC-AL project is financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation — Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by CIHEAM Bari in synergy with the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The project is focused on bringing back to life indigenous grape varieties such as Muskat Kanell, Gëms and especially Serina e Bardhë.
These varieties are the focus of the support provided by the TYPIC-AL Project to the Incubator run by the Agriculture Cooperation Society “Grabovica” for the creation of a new vineyard dedicated exclusively to local grape varieties.
This initiative aims to promote the territory, to protect biodiversity, and create new business opportunities, starting with local producer organisations.
Once the seedlings are ready, they will be transferred and planted on the incubator’s ground and there, the new vineyard of typical local grapes will be born.
Mayor of Pogradec Ilir Xhakolli said that in addition to identifying and preserving traditional grape varieties, the project has also included financing the purchase of modern agricultural machinery and technological equipment, which give farmers the opportunity to work with more efficient tools and according to European standards.
According to him, the project has supported the creation of a new cooperation structure between farmers, through agricultural associations, helping to reduce production costs, share advanced technology and benefit from professional training provided by experts from CIHEAM Bari and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The benefits for the rural community are obvious: increased production of indigenous grapes, the restore of rare varieties, better access to the market, increased income and the creation of new employment opportunities in the agricultural and agro-processing sectors.
This project represents an example of successful cooperation between Albanian institutions and international partners. The Italian Cooperation, CIHEAM Bari and the Ministry of Agriculture have reaffirmed their commitment to support the farmers of Pogradec, to preserve biodiversity and to develop a more sustainable and competitive agriculture.
In this context, the creation of the Agriculture Cooperation Society “Grabovica” and the union of farmers is considered an important first step towards building capacities of local producers. According to project representatives, only through cooperation the farmers can benefit more from EU programs and projects supported by the Albanian government. /j.p/p.s./
