ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITY FOR ORGANIC FOOD AND FARMING IN ALBANIA

Summary

Over the past few years organic products have witnessed a massive development both in terms of crop adaptability practices and in the applied norms as well as in the assessment on the consumer's side. The latter has been well placed to gain a well-defined identity in the possible scenarios of development and integration of the agricultural sector into the regional economy and beyond. In several instances, the increase in production might attest to the successful implementation of a certification program of the areas of land long organic by nature rather than the reversal of the agricultural system. It is the case of Albania that might be able to adopt the certification procedures for the recognition of organic products in order to attain or better boost the economic worthiness of production. One of the critical points that presents themselves in the Albanian organic agriculture has been depicted from the inadequacy of the evaluation of the products. The operating lack of the commercialization chain, the missing integration of the supply chain and the weak links among manufacturers, processors/exporters and consumers make the Albanian producers face an ever-decreasing profit once they return to organic products. On the other hand this is going to favour traders and exporters who stand to gain more in terms of the margin of profit. The existing organic agricultural systems are characterized by small-sized and fragmented structures, far from being organized in groups and not integrated into the supply chain. Thus, the establishment of the ever-increasing fully-operating forms capable of permitting a concentration of supply is assuming notes of urgency along with the provision of farmers with a contractual power.