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| Workers filling the nails with chestnuts at a collection point in Tropoja |
The chestnuts of Tropoja are now certified with high-quality standards, presenting a unique product that grows in the wild and has great potential to increase profits for the residents of the area.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is aiming to establish a sustainable value chain for chestnuts in the Northern Tropoja region through a pilot project.
According to the FAO, the project envisions the implementation of measures for biological pest control, emphasizing the importance of well-planned and long-term interventions in selected areas, Monitor reports.
FAO's initiative "One Place, One Priority Product" primarily focuses on the mountainous areas of the northern district of Tropoja in Albania, which has over 2,000 hectares of massive chestnut forests. Approximately 70% of its residents live in mountainous areas, where the chestnut massif is concentrated.
The project "Sustainable Development of the Chestnut Value Chain" will run from 2023 to 2025. The initiative aims to revitalize the chestnut value chain, including chestnut production, processing, and trade, with a focus on expanding cultivated areas and positioning chestnut products in the regional market, FAO further explains.
Efforts are being made to increase domestic chestnut consumption. Local chestnut festivals and cultural activities have been organized to promote local chestnut products.
FAO aims to support chestnut production by initiating protection against the Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp.
Chestnuts play a crucial ecological role, with key hydrological, climatic, and protective functions, underscoring their importance for ensuring healthy ecosystems and the development of rural communities.
Moreover, the economic and medical aspects of chestnuts, including fruit production, timber, flour, and honey, significantly contribute to strengthening the country's rural economy.
Currently, storage structures have been set up in Tropoja regarding this fruit, and export channels with Italy have been functional for years. However, processing is still not carried out domestically.
Now, with the increase in tourists, chestnut processing could further boost income from this product.