RisiAlbania and the Municipality of Kolonja, represented by Mayor Erion Isai, signed on 14th of May 2020 a memorandum of understanding to boost organic cultivation and processing of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) in the region. This cooperation brings new opportunities for local farmers by attracting investments and creating employment opportunities for local youth.

Kolonja has a long tradition in collecting and trading MAPs: for many families, wild MAPs are the main income source. Because of overexploitation, wild MAPs have become increasingly scarce, which is not only an ecological disaster but creates economic hardship for families. Young women and men do not see it as an attractive employment sector – which means in a few years’ time, a traditional form of livelihood could be lost.

To address the above, the Municipality of Kolonja is taking steps for the development of the MAPs sector, the protection of natural resources, and turning MAPs into an attractive employer. Organic cultivation of MAPs is not widespread in Kolonja, even though it would offer a sustainable solution to these problems.

The Municipality, backed by the Municipal Council of Kolonja, aims to stimulate investments in the cultivation of organic MAPs in the region.

“Farmers’ wellbeing is our priority and the current COVID-19 pandemic showed us that as humans, we need to focus more on environment, land and agriculture. I see no better way to respond to such crisis than by establishing this cooperation” – stated Mayor Erion Isai from Kolonja.

Stephan Joss, RisiAlbania Project Director and Helvetas Albania Country Coordinator added that “Kolonja’s agroecological conditions are suitable for MAPs cultivation, which means it has the potential to attract buyers. People in the region have an entrepreneurial spirit and the Municipality is creating an enabling environment. These four ingredients make us confident that our cooperation will be successful. For us it is a pleasure to cooperate with the Municipality of Kolonja as through RisiAlbania and the Bashki te Forta project”.

Exporters have begun to show interest in investing in the area. Agro-Map Consulting is the first exporter who signed contracts with farmers, and cultivation has started despite COVID-19 difficulties.

RisiAlbania is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), implemented by a consortium of Helvetas and Partners Albania for Change and Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Albania.