Cherry cultivation in Dvoran/ Farmers complain: There is a lack of labor, we have no profit

2026-06-02 10:27:00, Sociale CNA

Cherry cultivation in Dvoran/ Farmers complain: There is a lack of labor, we

The cherry harvest season is expected to begin in the village of Dvoran in Korça, one of the most well-known areas for cultivating this fruit.

Cherry cultivation in Dvoran/ Farmers complain: There is a lack of labor, we

Although this year's production is considered good, farmers are concerned about the lack of labor and market uncertainty, problems that, according to them, are making it increasingly difficult to keep agricultural activity alive.

Cherry cultivation in Dvoran/ Farmers complain: There is a lack of labor, we

Farmer Baftjar Rexhep, who has been cultivating cherries for 25 years, says the situation has worsened year by year. He says that although production is abundant, selling prices remain low, while the lack of workers risks leaving a significant portion of the production unharvested.

"We have a shortage of labor and we don't know what the price will be, how the market will go, because there is no market. There is no good market. We have been dealing with cherries for 25 years. Even the weaker it gets year after year. Production is good, we have production. We have been selling it for 1000-1200 old lek, but it is still around here and there. We don't know how it will go because we haven't started selling. Tirana, Durrës and Vlora are the markets where the production goes. Korça has no market. Most people have gone abroad and there is no labor force. We can have about 8 tons of cherries and there are only two of us to pick them. We are looking for labor and we can't find it," the farmer emphasized.

The farmer says his family expects to harvest about 8 tons of cherries this season, but currently there are only two people who can handle the harvest. According to him, the departure of young people and the lack of labor are creating serious difficulties for farmers in the area.

Cherry cultivation in Dvoran/ Farmers complain: There is a lack of labor, we

Sefedin Kodra, who has been cultivating cherries for more than three decades, is also pessimistic about the future of the sector. He says that production costs have increased significantly, while sales prices do not cover the costs of fertilizers, pesticides and seasonal workers.

"I have been cultivating cherries for over 30 years. Before, we would sell them and people would come and pick them up for us. But now we have given up completely. There are no workers, no one to collect them. They will remain there. The young people have left. I have five acres of cherries and eight acres of berries. The cherries will also remain on the trees. With 500 old lek per kilogram and with workers who ask for over 30 thousand lek per day, what good do I have? All the medicine, all the fertilizer, the cost goes up. The state does not help. They have abandoned us. Who will eat all this production? We cannot manage with the old one," said Kodra.

According to him, many farmers are losing interest in continuing their activity, while the lack of support and population emigration are directly affecting agriculture in the area.

Cherry cultivation in Dvoran/ Farmers complain: There is a lack of labor, we

Meanwhile, Dvorani resident Pëllumb Çaushi, who has been living in the United States for years, proposes a solution that he believes could alleviate the labor shortage. He suggests that responsible institutions invest in modern cherry harvesting technology, as used in developed countries.

"The labor shortage exists, as here and in other countries, but it is not an insoluble problem. I would make a request to the Ministry of Agriculture to bring special machinery for cherry harvesting. In America, I have seen with my own eyes how this technology works. The machinery shakes the tree, the cherries fall and are collected automatically. There is no need for many workers. This would be a great help for farmers who have large areas and are unable to find workers. We need to invest in modern technology and not just in old agricultural tools," says Çaushi.

Çaushi says that on American farms the harvesting process is mainly carried out with specialized machinery, significantly reducing the need for seasonal workers. According to him, the introduction of these technologies in Albania would help farmers cope with the labor shortage and avoid loss of production.

Cherry cultivation in Dvoran/ Farmers complain: There is a lack of labor, we

But despite the difficulties, Dvorani farmers hope that the market will stabilize in the coming weeks and that this year's production will not remain on the tree. However, they are asking for more support for the agricultural sector, both in terms of mechanization and guaranteeing a market for local products./CNA