As the cherry harvest season kicks off, farmers in the Korçë region are grappling with a significant labor shortage. In the village of Dvoran, although the cherry production is promising, there is a substantial risk that much of the fruit will remain unharvested.
 |
| A basket of cherries under a cherry tree |
Farmers report that a cherry picker earns around 2,000 lek per day in Albania. In neighboring countries like North Macedonia and Greece, workers earn between 40 and 60 euros for the same work. This stark wage disparity is drawing local laborers abroad, exacerbating the labor shortage in Korçë.
One farmer expressed his frustration, "We used to pay 15,000 lek, now even with 20,000 lek we can't find anyone. If there is no market, we struggle to pay 25-30,000 lek, but no one comes because they get 60 euros elsewhere. I offer 20,000 lek and they say they will work there. If there are no workers, I can't harvest. It's just me and my wife. Everyone makes their calculations. People have families, and our population here is aging."
Another farmer added, "They have gone abroad, seasonally but many also go to Germany and France. They want 20,000 lek because they work for 6-7 hours, half for them, half for us. It's very difficult."
The farmers have diversified their crops, growing not only cherries but also tomatoes and peppers. However, the labor shortage persists. "We planted cherries, tomatoes, peppers. No workers, we work by ourselves. It's hard primarily because agriculture is tough, cherries are ready, but there are no workers. The youth have left. Only the elderly remain. No one comes to work. If the price is good, we will raise the workers' wages," one farmer stated.
Another echoed the sentiment, "It's tough finding workers. They want higher wages. Here, we can't offer 10-20,000 lek, while over there they get better income. They go to Macedonia, Greece. They work for 40 euros."
The Korçë region boasts approximately 240,000 cherry trees with a total production of 5,350 tons. The village of Dvoran alone has over 25,000 cherry trees, producing about 700 tons. Despite this substantial yield, the lack of labor poses a significant challenge to harvesting and selling the produce.
As cherry prices in Italy soar to as much as 25 euros per kilogram, the Korçë farmers' struggle highlights a critical issue in agricultural labor mobility and wage disparities within the region. Without adequate labor, much of this valuable crop risks being lost, underscoring the urgent need for solutions to support local farmers and stabilize the agricultural workforce.