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| Old olive trees in Berat |
The Berat region, widely known for its vast olive groves.
Olive farmers, as this year’s olive production has been disappointing. The farmers of this area are struggling with several challenges, including low yields, prices below cost, and difficulties in finding both markets and labor.
Farmer Llazar Pestanaku notes the drop in prices: "Last year, olives were priced at 16 lek per kilogram, but now they’re around 15 lek per kilogram, so there’s been a decline."
Another farmer highlights the imbalance in the market: "Selling the olives is a problem because traders make more money than we, the producers, do. Processed olives sell for 4-5 thousand lek per kilogram, while we are offered only 1,000 lek here. The state needs to intervene."
Maintenance costs for olive trees are also increasing, particularly due to the rising prices of chemical fertilizers. Farmers say the cost of fertilizers is climbing year after year, while the price they receive at collection points continues to fall.
"Fertilizer prices rise every year, and whether we buy it or not, we have no other choice," says another farmer. He adds that the weather, especially during April, plays a crucial role in the success of the olive crop.
Bilçë village, which boasts the largest number of olive trees in Berat, has around 1,000 hectares of land with 140,000 olive trees. In a typical year, the village produces over 2,500 tons of olives, but this year production has dropped by nearly 30%.
In addition to these challenges, farmers are facing another major issue— a shortage of labor during the olive harvesting season. Many farmers are struggling to find workers, which is further complicating an already difficult year.
These combined challenges are leaving Berat’s olive farmers in a difficult position, with many calling for more support from the government to help stabilize prices and improve market conditions.