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Wider approach for
organic agriculture
During 10-11 July 2006 came again in
Albania the well-know expert of organic agriculture Dr.
Darko Znoar to give his lecture in an auditorium with
experts of organic agriculture, this time from Durres city.
This time on his working visit in Albania was present Mr.
van der Bijlladrt, project manager of the regional project.
“For a Sustainable Agriculture Development in South –East
Countries”. The participation of women experts and actors in
organic agriculture was another challenging aspect of this
training.
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Expert of
Organic Agriculture from "Avalon" Foundation, Durrės - July 2006
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For protection of genetic
recourses of the country
In the country
literature it is written that amongst 10 best ecotypes of
goats is the black goat of Dukati. In an international
source is mentioned that this ecotype is one of the 50 best
ecotypes at world scale. Fortunately this race of goat has
survived in the accelerated process of erosion these last
years in the country. There are shepherds of the zone
themselves interested to keep it, since they find into the
black goat of Dukati the economic interest. This ecotype of
goat well adopted in more than 2000 years on the ecosystem
of Dukati region provides more than 100 liter of milk in the
season and 1-2 kids per capita totally based on grazing.
More over the taste of
the young goat meat of this region is quite distinguished
and very much demanded. Actually in the region are accounted
3000 goats and at least there is not decreasing of the
heads. Some passionate shepherds like Viron Nela and
Sheme Xhelili have herds with more than 500 heads. Also the
sheep of Dukati is an ecotype very well adopted with
Mediterranean ecosystem of Dukati. It is with small body but
very flexible on the rocky terrain of the zone.
On the desire to better
recognize the special values of sheep and goats of the
Dukati region, the Karaburuni Association supported by
Organic Agriculture Association organized on 29 May 2006 in
Dukat a zonal competition for the black goat of Dukati and
sheep of Dukati.
In competition
participated 13 farmers. The Commission with experts from
Tirana and the zone gave the first prices based on the
scientific criteria.
It was shown great
interest by the people of the community, especially
children. The activity was transmitted on local media. The
Karaburuni association confirms that is committed to protect
the irreplaceable richness of the zone, hoping that has
given a contribution on protection of genetic resources of
the country. |
View from the regional competition of ruminants, Dukat - May 2006
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EARTH DAY
22 APRIL
2006
“I Contribute for protection of Earth”
On Earth day, 22 April 2006
Organic Agriculture Association (OAA) organised an excursion
with around 100 students of Agriculture University of Tirana
at the organic farm in Lanabregas, Dajti commune.
A 4 hours programme not only
gave a clear message to students, but also designed in this
framework several activities for the future in the direction
of further development of organic agriculture in the
country, as a key approach for sustainable agriculture
development. For all the participants was organised a lunch
only with Albanian organic products, certified by OAA.
Than a feast with music and
dancers were organised, where students themselves were part
of the performance.
On the tee-shirts of
students were written EARTH DAY and GO ORGANIC.
The whole activity was done
with the support of the common project of OAA and Avalon
Foundation, Netherlands, which aims sustainable agriculture
development in the South East Europe.
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Earth Day
with the students of Agriculture University and with organic food,
22 April 2006
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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumers’ Protection
becomes actor in organic agriculture movement.
After the approval of the law for
organic agriculture in 2004 The Ministry of Agriculture
plans a range of activities for a concrete support of
organic agriculture in the country.
In this framework is also the important
of the activity for a 10 days training for inspection and
certification in Italy and in Albania a group of experts
coming from Ministry itself and NGOs dealing with organic
agriculture in the country. This training was held from 27
mars – 7 April 2006.
The trainers were selected from the
biggest inspection and certification body in Italy, from
ICEA. The activity is financed by the European Fund for
Regional Development, Intereg III Italy-Albania. |
Members of
OAA participates in the training for the organic agriculture, Bari -
April 2006
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Report
of the External Review of SDC’s project
„Sustainable Agriculture Support Albania (SASA)“
2nd phase (2003 – 2006)
implemented by FIBL and OAA
Evaluator:
Joseph Guntern, CreaConsult gmbh, Oberer Quai 104 A,
2503 Biel
Tel. +41 32 323 16 76 / mail:
creaconsult@bluewin.ch
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Biel,
August 2005
Abbreviations
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EU |
European Union |
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FAO |
Food and Agriculture Organisation |
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FIBL |
Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture |
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GDP |
Gross Domestic Product |
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GEF |
Global Environment Facility |
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GMO |
Genetically Modified Organisms |
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GTZ |
German Technical Co-operation |
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ha |
hectare |
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ILO |
International Labour Organisation |
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IMF |
International Monetary Fund |
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LBL |
Swiss Centre for Agricultural Extension, Lindau |
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LEIA |
Low External Input Agriculture |
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MERV |
Monitoring System for Development Relevant Changes;
Swiss Co-operation |
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MoAF |
Ministry of Agriculture and Food |
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NGO |
Non Governmental Organisation |
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NSSED |
National Strategy for Social and Economic
Development |
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OA |
Organic Agriculture |
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OAA |
Organic Agriculture Association, Albania |
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PRGF |
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility |
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SAA |
Stabilisation and Association Agreement with EU |
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SASA |
Sustainable Agriculture Support Albania |
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SC |
Steering Committee |
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SDC |
Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation |
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seco |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs; Switzerland |
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SME |
Small or Medium size Enterprise |
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ToR |
Terms of Reference |
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WB |
World Bank |
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Acknowledgements
I express my sincere gratitude to:
Joseph Guntern
CreaConsult gmbh
1.
Executive Summary
FIBL and OAA were mandated by SDC in 2001 to start a LEIA
project (orientation phase until spring 2003). After an
external review in November 2002, the current phase 1 (May
2003 – April 2006) was planned with the purpose of providing
organic products of high quality for local, national and
international markets and thus to generate a stable income
for the involved farmers families as well as for the
processors that are active in the OA chain. The focus of the
SASA project is clearly oriented towards OA.
The external review 2005 aims at: a) establishing a balance
on the relevance, effectiveness and the efficiency of SASA
in relation to its system of objectives, b) assessing the
roles of the two project implementers, FIBL and OAA, c)
establishing a first analysis of the possibilities for the
“phasing out” of the Swiss partners (SDC and FIBL). The
review is basically future oriented. Conclusions and
recommendations serve as relevant elements for decision
making on the strategies for further planning.
In general terms it must be stated that SASA is still a
pilot project even if the present phase 1 was planned as a
first lap of important operational actions. SASA achieved
very good results in all planned activity lines and
sub-projects and it is certainly on “the right track” for
the development of a realistic OA. The implementation and
coordination of a diversified (complex) package of tasks
along the value chain for different products requires a
careful procedure (professional approach) and thus it takes
some time; taking also into consideration that SASA has to
evolve a still not common concept (OA in Albania) within a
rather difficult context.
Even as a fairly new project, SASA is producing tendencies
of impacts at the levels of: a) farmers and processors; they
are achieving higher living standards (like substantial
improvements of their housing conditions as well as of the
education of their children); they also expect a clear
decrease of migration of youth, b) a growing demand on
Albanian (niche-) markets for clearly identified and
certified products from local production systems (Karaburuni
region) and OA schemes, c) selected OA products from Albania
that can be placed on export markets d) OAA/SASA that is a
widely recognised as a proficient organism in matters of OA
and environmental topics, and e) OA practices that lead to
recognised positive effects in the renovation of the
environment.
The
general assessment of SASA’s relevance can be rated as good
with a high potential to very good in the future. The
relevance can be observed on the generally positive reaction
of the main partners (beneficiaries) along the value chain.
The produced results of SASA show a good effectiveness in
relation to the planned expected outputs. The efficiency of
the invested means and capacities are adequate for a pilot
project; training of pilot farmers and OA specialist as well
as research and validation of techniques require a high of
professional assistance.
The sustainability of OAA and the introduced concept of
SASA can still not be fully assessed. Sustainability along a
value chain can only be produced if markets react
positively. This means production and processing have to be
oriented mainly towards markets; that also means that a
careful development of respective products (offering stable
volumes of good quality) has to be envisaged within a
long-term frame. Problematic issues for such long-term
developments are often the immediate behaviours of key
stakeholders; abrupt and short-term changes in the final
offer can lead to a loss of confidence of the consumers;
they also will change their providers.
SASA’s work approaches are real strong points of the
project. The main lines of approaches are: a) the
establishment of excellent contacts to key farmers and
processors based on a common language and on joint
activities (on farm research and marketing), b) the transfer
of know-how and the exchange of experiences through
associative structures (mainly built by producers and
processors) is highly effective; it creates possibilities
for a wider multiplication of OA, c) the introduction of
labelling and certification procedures that are essential
for a successful marketing (marketing is the most
influencing stage within the whole value chain), d) the
farmers-to-farmers scheme for a systematic exchange of
experiences (“best practices”), meanwhile a systematic
extension service provided by MoAF and other stakeholder is
not functional and effective for OA matters, e) lobbying and
policy dialogue, and finally f) “learning by doing” that is
a way of proceeding practice oriented and participatory for
the staff and their partners at all intervention levels.
The organisational constellation SDC-FIBL-OAA proves to be
sufficient and efficient in the technical fields of the
project (exchange of relevant know-how, coordination of
sub-projects in OA topics). Problems are stated in the
general project management (planning and reporting is not
realised according the established milestones, shortcomings
in the management of the finances that are solved now, lack
of pro-active communication from OAA to FIBL, unclear
division of tasks between the two executing organisms). The
problematic situation is to a certain extent a result of
differences in the perception about “good project
management” between the Swiss and the Albanian partners.
Nevertheless, standing rules and regulations can not be
discussed; the financing partner (SDC) must insist in the
proper management of the project; FIBL is responsible for
executing SASA according SDC rules.
Recommendation 01
It is recommended to extend SASA for a next phase of 3 years
keeping the option for an additional phase of 3 years:
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Phase 2 (2006-2009) oriented to the further development of technical
concepts as well as to initiate a firm scheme for
multiplication and extension.
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Phase 3 (2009-2012) oriented to the consolidation of the SASA scheme
within the strengthened local and national structures.
The phasing out of SDC support can be envisaged in a
reductive process until the end of that phase.
It is important to set clear milestones (intermediate
results) on expected project progress and the related
management scheme, during both phases.
Recommendation
02
It is recommended to basically keep the same set of
objectives, work approaches and activity lines in the next
phase. A slight increase of the project must be envisaged at
the levels of a) farmers and processors, b) markets and c)
geographic coverage.
Recommendation 03
It is recommended to keep a strictly market oriented
approach for the future development of OA products. This
means to continuously and actively analyse the market
opportunities with a view on diversification.
Recommendation
04
It is recommended to establish a functional and efficient
inspection and certification unit (as it is on the way).
Certification of OA products is a basic requisite for
sustainability (long-term market performance).
Recommendation
05
It is recommended to increase the efforts for supporting
carefully selected SMEs in the processing sector. This
support has to include well coordinated activities on a)
capacity building (technical and management issues), b)
access to fair finances (credits) and c) creation of a
business friendly environment (lobbying and negotiation for
conducive SME development policies, for the elaboration and
application of effective laws, and for the establishment of
functional public-private-partnership schemes). Agro SMEs
are important organisms for the creation of local job
opportunities and added value on local products (thus for
income generation).
Recommendation
06
It is recommended to foster and to strengthen associative
structures of OA farmers and processors. Associations at
that level are important partners for the orientation of the
product development and the product flow within the value
chain. Through such associations, farmers and processors can
be included in activities lobbying and policy dialogue.
Recommendation
07
It is recommended to analyse the potential of building up an
effective (functional) extension system for the introduction
and the follow-up of OA on a wider scale. Key actors, their
functions and their roles within a joint service structure
have to be identified; their offers have to be examined on
feasibility and potentials for an operative coordination of
tasks with other interlocutors. A final proposal for a joint
extension system in OA development can be presented by end
of 2006 (in order to take respective decisions on the future
design of possible service structure as well as to start
testing and validating the proposed scheme until the end of
phase 2).
Recommendation
08
It is recommended to further develop and support a
farmer-to-farmer scheme for the exchange of relevant
experiences and for extending OA.
Recommendation
09
It is recommended to establish a systematic knowledge
platform on OA issues for Albania. A first proposal on the
respective objectives and the organisational consequences
(actors, functions and division of tasks) can be presented
until end of 2006 (similar procedure like in recommendation
07). The establishment of a well structured network of
relevant professional partners is one of the keys to success
of such a platform.
Recommendation 10
It is recommended to establish a systematic impact (and
relevance) monitoring in SASA. Respective indicators have to
be defined in the process of planning phase 2.
Recommendation
11
It is recommended to re-organise the co-operation set-up and
the decision making structure of SASA in function of its
up-coming broader space of intervention in the next phase.
SDC and the OAA board sign the project agreement and are
members of a Steering Committee (SC). SDC delegates the
implementation of the project to FIBL (specific contract).
The OAA board delegates the implementation of the project to
the OAA team (ToR).
Recommendation
12
It is recommended to establish a systematic human resource
management scheme in the SASA team (including internal
coaching and job assessment as well as opportunities for
relevant training on the job).
Recommendation 13
It is recommended to elaborate a planning platform for phase
2 (formal SDC document, signed by the head of section). This
document is a common reference frame between SDC and FIBL/
OAA on the key elements and conditions of the future
co-operation within SASA.
INDEPENDENT Auditor’s REPOrT
for the:
“ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE ASSOCIATION”
sustainable agriculture support in albania
Project’s Financial Statements
Covered by the period
1st May 2005 – 30th April 2006
Independent Auditors’ report
To the Board of Directors of:
“Swiss Development and Cooperation”
“Organic
Agriculture Association”
“Research Institute of Organic Agriculture”
We have audited the accompanying statement of cash receipts
and disbursement of “Organic Agriculture Association”
for the implementation of the “sustainable
Agriculture Support in Albania
(sasa-project)” project in Albania, as of
April 30, 2006 and the
related statements of expenses for the year then ended.
These Financial Statements are the responsibility of the
Organization’s management. Our responsibility is to express
an independent opinion of these statements, based on our
audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with
the International Standards of Auditing. Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance whether the financial statements of the
Organization are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on test basis the evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management as well as
evaluating the overall financial statements presentation. We
believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
We have audited only the financial statements
of “sustainable
Agriculture Support in Albania”
Project, for the year ended
April 30, 2006 and we
have not audited the overall financial statements
of “Organic Agriculture Association”,
accordingly we do not expressed an opinion on the
assets, liabilities and equity of the OAA organization, as
at April 30, 2006 and the results of its operation and cash
flow for the year then ended.
In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects the financial position of the
organization as of April 30, 2006
and the result of its operations and cash flow for the year
then ended.
“Organic Agriculture Association”,
has developed its activities in accordance with the acts of
Agreement, and other requirements related to the use of
funds.
“Gjini Consulting” ltd
Registered Auditors
Date
……………………………
4th of July 2006
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