FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Albania needs 1.9 billion euros in food this year. The calculations were made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, based on expectations for 14 million tourists. This figure is 300 million euros higher than last year, during which the country was visited by about 12.5 million foreigners.
Tourists demand Albanian products, but how much can our agriculture feed foreign tourists?
"The capacities are there, but the opportunities are not. What does this mean? We are not competitive. In all countries of the world, agriculture is subsidized, somewhere more and somewhere less, but always more than in Albania," said Theodhor Kristuli, president of the Agro-Food Union.
Tourism is considered a good opportunity for agriculture by experts in the sector. But with current developments in agriculture, especially in terms of financing, rather than domestic production, all likelihood signals an expansion of imports.
"Seeing the tourism sector growing significantly, it would be a good thing for us if more attention were paid to agriculture. It would help the economy, farmers, and all of us, " said Theodhor Kristuli.
As if poor domestic production weren't enough, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has responded to the growing influx of tourists by once again removing wheat cultivation from the scheme.
Increased demand for consumption by foreigners, due to weak domestic production, is putting pressure on product prices. Mainly dairy products, but also vegetables produced in the country, became more expensive by an average of about 5 percent last year alone./ A2CNN
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