Organic Agriculture Association (OAA)

OAA was established on 13 June 1997, by a group of 22 agricultural specialists and farmers. In their first meeting they elected the board (or council) of the association and approved its statute. The roots of membership are farmers and groups of farmers, who are already organic or becoming organic. Also, members are university teachers, researchers, businessmen and other individuals involved or willing to join the organic movement in Albania. OAA has a network of experts in agriculture and rural development all over the country, who are time after time activated. 

Mission of OAA

- The mission of OAA is to contribute to sustainable development and
environmental protection at national level with main focus on rural
development.

Objectives of the Association

- Making known and promoting principles, ideas and advantages of sustainable agriculture and rural development, through publications, media, training, workshops, etc.

-OAA is continuously involved in supporting environmental protection
causes through advocacy, direct activism and publicity.

- Encouraging the creation of farmers' groups and marketing channels for organic products.

- Advising individual businesses and groups of farmers for producing, processing and marketing organically produced products.

- Assisting members and interested groups by training courses, workshops, conferences, publications, study tours, etc.

- Assisting the Government and other institutions in the formulation of the laws of legislature, agriculture policies and generally in the development of the rural areas based on the principles and practices of the sustainable development.

- Assisting members and interested groups by training courses, workshops, conferences, publications, study tours, etc.

- Assisting the Government and other institutions in the formulation of the laws of legislature, agriculture policies and generally in the development of the rural areas based on the principles and practices of the sustainable development.

 

THE ORGANISATION STRUCTURE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ASSOCIATION - OAA 

 

 

 

Lavdosh Ferruni

 

 

Some main activities of OAA

The Albanian government approved in 1998 the Green Strategy. It was innovative that it was included in this strategy a chapter for sustainable rural development. OAA took responsibility of writing this chapter. Nevertheless the content of strategy was appreciated it was not applied in practice. To make the concept applicable OAA jumped in terrain initiating a project since 2000, which would be named latter SASA (Sustainable Agriculture Support in Albania).

The project aimed a vertical integration from agricultural production up to consumers’ information. In order to demonstrate sustainable agriculture it was chosen the best model of it, organic agriculture. In 6 years work it was proved to be successful model. Nowadays there is evidence of an organic local market, including the presence of organic stall in the hypermarket in Tirana. Exports of certified organic products are evident also, like olive oil, medicinal herbs etc.

It is expected that the certified organic products for fruits and vegetables in local market reaches 300 tons in 2006 instead of 200 tons in 2005.

It is increased the interest from medicinal herbs companies to be certified as organic. OAA is facilitating this process, basically through approaching ICEA with its professional and well recognized services of inspection and certification.

2010 -2016 OAA has been significantly involved in the environmental issues in the country, believing it is not much room for the organic movement in a polluting environment. So it has been part of leadership of the Civil Alliance for the Protection of Vlora Bay 2005-2009.

During 2011 – 2013 OAA has been again par of leadership of he Alliance against the Import of Waste and again in 2016.

From 2013 -2016 OAA has been quite active in advocacy of Free Vjosa River and part of campaigns against the epidemic decision making of hundreds of HPPs in the country, including in protected areas. In such kind of advocacy OAA has been supported by regional ETNAR project. In the meantime OAA has not forgotten to deal with clean zones to develop organic produce, like it is the attempt to organically cultivate at the buffer zone of Shebenik Jabllanica National Park the specie in red book (vicinium vitae idea- boronica e kuqe).

 

2016-2021 OAA has been focused on 2 main pillars; firstly, advocating the communities affected by environmental destruction using besides direct activism and participation as plaintiff in courts of communities and using in a professional way the social media; secondly, saving genetic resources of agriculture through encouraging cultivation in situ and ex situ, identifying the plants more adaptable to climate change and by providing connections with agrotourism.

 

Download a detailed report of OAA activities in years, by clicking the following link below:

 

- Financial table 2021 and 2020 -

Link: https://bit.ly/3HYttVv

 

Narrative report 2020 & 2021

Link: Narrative Report 2020

Link: Narrative Report 2021

 

Activity Report 2020 & 2021

Link: Activity Report 2020

Link: Activity Report 2021

 

 

E-mail: info@organic.com.al / url: www.organic.com.al