Trinomial Collaboration, A Success Story in Xarra and Konispol

“We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort.” - Obama.

Thus began the collaboration of the AFS Consulting Studio with a group of farmers who cultivate significant areas of mandarins in Xarra and Konispol. During August 2020, a total of 9 farmers from Xarra and Konispoli signed IPARD grant contracts for investment in specialized agricultural machinery. The head of the AFS consulting office, Mr. Ilir Pilku, states: “The high technology they selected, specifically the New Holland tractors, and their formalized business, made it easier for me to meet all the criteria required by IPARD grant”. In addition to that, AFS studio provided the certification with the high Global Gap Standard to some potential farmers in Xarra, as part of the consultancy. It is worth mentioning that this investment was also supported with a subsidy from the national ARDA schemes.

This successful work could not have been crowned with success without the commitment of the head of the NOA branch in Saranda, Mrs. Janulla Kekezi, who in a record time provided preliminary financing to some farmers, until they got the reimbursement of the grant by ARDA.

IPARD grants have a feature which relies on EU manuals, that each beneficiary of a grant contract must implement 100% of the investment plan with its own financial resources, while IPARD verifies and reimburses the grant after the contracted investment is implemented. This forces farmers to think about financing sources while they apply for subsidies or grants. Grant implementation time is limited, and advance crediting is just as important as the IPARD grant itself. “The cooperation of the winning farmers of the IPARD grant with NOA Micro-Financial Institution was another story of success for the farmers of Xarra and Konispol, but also for the AFS Studio that I lead” - states Mr. Pilku.

The trinomial cooperation of farmers, donors and financial institutions under the consultancy of agribusiness experts, is the key to success for all farmers in Albania.

Nowadays, everybody takes pride in Xarra mandarins, not only in the area where they are cultivated, but all across the country, and they also serve as an incentive for all farmers in Albania. They serve as a lesson on the exploitation of our natural resources and as an example of adapting conditions to the local economy.