In the southeastern region of Albania, farmers face challenging circumstances, leading to the uprooting of entire orchards. In Zvirinë village, part of the Maliq municipality, the Nurka family, with a history in apple farming spanning three generations, has opted to cut down their trees. This decision follows several years of unsuccessful sales efforts.
The trees, planted in recent years, represented the family's investment from overseas earnings. However, market conditions have pushed Skënder Nurka to abandon this legacy. He states, "There's no market, prices are terrible, pesticides are a disaster, and apples don't sell. What else can I do—cut my own head off? My son is gone, my daughter too. I'm 65, living on a pension. The apples remain unsold, though they are top quality. The whole country is in the same situation. I still have another orchard, but I don't know how much longer I can last here."
Farmers in the Devoll region are also cutting down fruit trees due to market access issues, competition, and the influx of imported products. Approximately 35 hectares of fruit-bearing land in Maliq and Devoll have been abandoned. The Nurka family's experience highlights the broader challenges faced by growers in the area. The farmer further expresses, "How can you not feel heartbroken? We grew up with this work. I graduated in agronomy in '79. This is how I fed myself, my father, and my son. Now my son left for Italy—three years ago. This is not our fault; the fault lies with those who have exploited us to the core."
Source: euronews