The competitiveness of commodity chains in Albania toward the EU integration

AuthorDorjan Lukas Marku
Pages375-382
Performance and Risks in the European Economy
375
The Competitiveness of Commodity Chains in Albania toward the EU
Integration on focus: Farmers of Korca region
Dorjan Marku1, Eleina Qirici2, Oriola Theodhori3
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to present a clear overview of the competitiveness of the commodity chains
of the Albanian agriculture and identify the main difficulties that farmers and smallholders are facing, in order
to access local and regional agricultural markets. Addressing weak points along the agro-food chain, and
increasing the competitiveness of the agricultural chains by improving support services at producer level,
linking them with competitive agricultural markets is very important for the economic growth of rural areas, as
Albania aspires to enter EU in the upcoming years. In order to identify the main p roblems that farmers and
small holders are being faced with, when their products access agricultural markets, we conducted a survey that
consisted on questionnaires distributed to farmers. Based on the statistical analysis resulted that the main
barriers that affect the access of agricultural products on the market were: low selling prices, lack of
transportation facilities, lack of contractual trade agreements and lack of modern technology. This study also
addresses to a greater extent different steps that should be followed in order to improve agriculture policies,
and to achieve a sustainable agriculture model, so that the Albanian agricultura l products can compete with
those of the region and EU.
Keywords: market access, agriculture policies, commodity chain, Korca,
1. Introduction
Agriculture in Albania faces important challenges aiming to achieve successful structural changes that
can increase productivity and restate its competitive advantages. In order to reach at a certain level that
can align toward the EU, the sector has to improve its physic capital, and adapt practices at all levels of
the agriculture, similar to those of the EU countries.
Many smallholders in developing countries face different risks in their production processes. Constantly
they are exposed to different negative influences such as natural disasters, conflicts, price instability and
uncertainty about the access of resources and markets.
In Albania, farmers face difficulties accessing local and regional agricultural markets, often without
adequate means to manage risks. This issue must be addressed in order to prevent price volatility, reduce
poverty in rural areas and enable smallholders to meet the growing demand for food. These negative
influences reduce farmer’s willingness to invest and considering market liberalization between countries
they become more exposed to such market risks. In order to create value chains, it is required an
1 Lecturer, PhD, Faculty of Agriculture, “Fan S. σoli” University, Albania, Address: “Shetitore Rilindasit”, Korçw, Albania,
Corresponding author: dorjanmarku@gmail.com.
2 Associate Professor, PhD, Faculty of Economy, “Fan S. σoli” University, Albania, Address: “Shetitore Rilindasit”, Korçw,
Albania, E-mail: qirici.elena@yahoo.com.
3 Associate Professor, PhD, Faculty of Economy, “Fan S. σoli” University, Albania, Address: “Shetitore Rilindasit”, Korçw,
Albania, E-mail:theodhorioriola@yahoo.com.

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