Apple cultivation in Devoll, the challenges and success of farmers

2025-03-13 14:10:00, Aktualitet CNA

Apple cultivation in Proger of Devoll has been a stable tradition for over 30 years, as farmer Urim Zili attests. He emphasizes that this agricultural crop requires constant care throughout the year, but it has nevertheless brought satisfactory income to the farmers of the area. According to him, unlike other agricultural crops such as potatoes and onions, which are not visible during growth, apples are always exposed, giving the farmer the opportunity to observe its development.

"I've been dealing with apples for 30 or so years. Apples are a crop that requires work and scissors, you have to carry them in your pocket for 12 months. There have been ups and downs, but overall we've done well with apples. Apples are different from potatoes and onions, which you don't see for what they are, you have control over them and you see what you want and what you don't want."

In recent years, the apple market has been stable, albeit with some fluctuations. Last year was particularly good, with favorable prices, especially for varieties such as Goldi, Fuji and Starking.

Apple cultivation in Devoll, the challenges and success of farmers

"I want to talk about the last few years, which have generally done well. In the last two years, apples have done well. For example, last year they did very well. I have several varieties, such as Goldin, Fujin, Starking, Hajdarene. The Goldin that I have by grafting had a good price last year, I sold it from the plot last year for 700 old lek. This year it went a little less, around 500 old lek, in some other varieties at that time I sold them for 550 old lek since the nuts, Goldin for 450 old lek, Starking for 270-300 old lek because it was the beginning, while now these varieties that I mentioned above, the people who have put the apples in the refrigerator for storage have done very well. Today Fujin went for 1 thousand old lek."

Another factor affecting the apple market is imports. Every year, farmers face the challenge of competition from foreign products, and concerns are often heard that the domestic market is being damaged by the entry of imported apples. However, when prices are good and apples are successfully sold, this factor is not mentioned as much. Overall, compared to other agricultural products, apples remain a stable crop with good profit potential.

"The reason for the cut is because part of the population is getting older, part of the young people have left and cannot afford it. The market for me has not been bad. As for onions and potatoes, I myself do not sell them, but I have heard that this year they have been lower compared to other years, while apples have done very well. Another reason is the impact of imports, year after year we cannot find the cure for this talk because we go out and say that this year apples did not sell because they came from abroad. This is due to the season, while they are selling we do not say anything. For me, apples remain good compared to onions and potatoes."

A major challenge for producers remains emigration and an aging population, which has led to a decrease in the number of active farmers. The headman of the village of Mançurisht, Sulejman Meço, explains that although some orchards have been cut down, this has not happened due to problems with the market, but mainly due to a lack of labor.

Apple cultivation in Devoll, the challenges and success of farmers

"Some of the orchards have been cut down and are continuing to be cut down due to emigration, because even our age now cannot do it, and this is more than obvious. We cannot say that they are being cut down because the apples are not selling well. This year there has been a not very satisfactory market, but satisfactory. They are at good prices, the apples are selling well. Most of the farmers who kept them in rented refrigerators have sold them. The rest who have varieties like hajdareja keep them in storage conditions, selling them for 200-400 old lek."

According to him, the quality of apples this year has been very good and most of the production has been sold, especially what has been stored in the refrigerator. Prices have ranged from 550 to 800 old lek per kilogram, depending on the type of apple. However, farmers are demanding more support from the state, especially in the form of subsidies for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are often of poor quality. So far, they have only benefited from the oil subsidy, but they are demanding more concrete measures to encourage investment in agriculture and to help young people return to the countryside.

Apple cultivation in Devoll, the challenges and success of farmers

"This year the market compared to other years when there was also damage from hail that did not go as production, this year we had apples of very good quality where most of the production was sold. In the refrigerators they were sold from 550-600 old lek to 700-800 old lek, depending on the varieties. We have asked for help for subsidies as farmers, the farmer should be subsidized as much as possible so that he can invest concretely. The part of the youth that left should come back and invest and work here. The government has simply given us the oil subsidy, in recent years, but something more is needed, whether for chemical fertilizers, pesticides which are not of good quality and to have as much control and as many subsidies for the farmer in order to have interest."

Overall, although the apple cultivation sector has had challenges, it continues to be an important source of income for Devoll farmers, with potential for further development if supported by appropriate agricultural policies. /CNA