Adela Danaj
1-Doubting is not a sin!
In the framework of preparing reports with an analytic character but in cases also investigative, APPA aims to seek transparency and accountability, as one of the forms of further democratic development in our country. During its activity it has identified cases of law infringement, compromises and other deviations. These cases have been numerous and it is almost sad that in these seven month positive reporting is nearly inexistent. However, it seems that the ministry is breaking the prophecy.
According to preliminary data reported from the ministry, in the first six months of 2015, agricultural exports increased considerably compared to the previous year. Of course such a news, at a time when trust in things getting better seems old and impossible as the European dream, this signals a green light for at least the agricultural sector. The ministry reports the following data:
- Berat Region: The total volume of agricultural exports at the end of the six month period was 21703 tons of product compared to 10455 tons from the previous year, marking thus a duplication in exports.
- Lusnje: in the customs 36023 tons of agricultural product have passed compared to 18909 tons from the previous year.
- In Fier, Vlore, Berat wheat production has also increased compared to the previous year.
- Elbasan: 40134 tons of wheat produced compared to 36400 from the previous year.
Another good news relates to eggs export towards EU countries after ISO certification of some Albanian companies.
This was one of the major news reported in visual and written media regarding the activity of this ministry, which means that the news itself might be verified in several sources and it can be easily tracked. However, it is not a sin if we question such news!
2- SARED scheme materializes
In the framework of the SARED program co-financed from the government of Germany and the government of Denmark and implemented by the Ministry and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, 13 contracts were initially signed with beneficiaries of the grants for investment in farms and agricultural processing. This is one of the news that comes officially from the ministry.
The ministry further reports that direct beneficiaries are winning applicants from rural and remote areas of Albania in the six regions supported by the SARED Project: Shkoder, Kukes, Diber, Elbasan, Berat and Korce. One of the priorities of this scheme is supporting women and young entrepreneurs. APPA has touched upon this issue previously seeking more transparency in relation to the application process and the conditions that applicants need to fulfill as well as the funds made available for winning applicants.
The ministry emphasizes that winning applications come from rural and remote areas but it does not say whether these applicants were previously trained considering the large amounts available from these funds.
However, in regards to this request the Ministry only notified that the first call for applications was opened on April 17 2015 and until now 41 applications are submitted with a volume of investments of 930000 Euros, of which 604000 Euros are in the form of grants for beneficiaries. From a total of 41 applications, 5 are from women (4 from Korca and 1 from Elbasan). There is no information on the application form, where it can be found and what is the deadline for accepting these applications, what are the criteria and the working group dealing with the process.
Also, the ministry reports that 13 contracts were signed with an investment value of 270000 Euros, from which approximately 180000 are granted to farmers and agroprocessors. These are considerable figures and it seems difficult to believe that farmers from rural and remote areas have prepared a strong application. This is not a prejudice towards them but rather a irresponsibility of the ministry if it allocated grants without strong criteria. APPA will continue to investigate this issue in the hope that it is us who were mistaken, not the ministry.
References:
Ministrai e Bujqësisë, Administrimit të Ujërave dhe Administrimit Rural. Korrik 2015. Rritje e madhe e eksporteve te bujqesore shqiptare ne tregjet rajonale dhe Europiane
Gazeta Shekulli. Rritja e eksporteve bujqësore Shqiptare.
http://www.shekulli.com.al/p.php?id=289715
Ministria e Bujqësisë, Administrimit të Ujërave dhe Administrimit Rural. Firmosen 13 kontratat e para për përfituesit e projektit SARED
Top Chanel TV. Grantet për fermerët, 13 sipërmarrës kanë përfituar nga skema e financimeve
http://top-channel.tv/lajme/artikull.php?id=303623
