Salla: New cooperation model with six municipalities for the protection of chestnut groves
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Andis Salla, signed today cooperation agreements with the municipalities of Shkodër, Tropojë, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Fushë-Arrëz and Vau i Dejës, for the implementation of the biological control program for the chestnut pest.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Local Government, Ervin Demo, as well as representatives of the FAO.
The agreement formalizes the cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the local government for the implementation of the project "Improving sustainable chestnut production in Albania through biological control of insect pests", defining the institutional framework for the protection and development of this sector.
"We are building a new model of cooperation between central and local government to protect an asset such as the chestnut forests, which today extend to about 10 thousand hectares and constitute an important source of income for the northern areas," said Minister Salla.
Chestnut groves in the north of the country are facing the threat of the Asian chestnut weevil (Dryocosmus kuriphilus), a pest that can cause production losses.
After the success of the pilot in Tropoja, where the first field laboratory for the breeding of beneficial insects that parasitize the pest was established, the program will now be extended to other municipalities with significant chestnut areas.
"By expanding the successful Tropoja model, by biologically combating the Asian hornet pest, we aim to protect production, strengthen local capacities and ensure long-term sustainability for this sector," he emphasized.
Applied biological control is considered an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution, which will directly impact the health of chestnut stands and the income of small farmers, for whom the collection and sale of the fruit constitutes a main source of livelihood.
The program foresees the establishment of regional laboratories for the propagation and distribution of biological agents, the engagement of municipalities with facilities and technical staff for field monitoring, as well as technical support from FAO through the training of local and international experts. The process aims for a gradual recovery of production, with expected results after the fourth year and full recovery within 8–10 years from the intervention.
This cooperation is developed within the framework of the FAO's global initiative "One Country, One Priority Product" (OCOP), which aims to promote agricultural products of strategic value and strengthen sustainable rural development.
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