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Abstract: The olive tree (Olea Europaea) owns the status of national patrimony in Albania. In the past, olive plantations were dictated by Agricultural Policies, where olive trees were cultivated mainly in marginal lowland areas and hills. The highest efficiency in olive production is reached mainly in the Southern and Central regions of the country. After 1990s, olive farming has been highly impacted due to shifts in the economic system. Its interest in the economical aspect is going to be very important in the near future. The government has developed a national scheme for the intensification of olive farming by increasing the planted area by 60,000 ha, or in total to 20 million olive trees. Our study presents an overall view of actual trends of olive farming, olive industry, subsequent environmental problems resulting from farming and olive mills by-products, and finally the role that the government has to play in that sector.
Key words: Olea Europaea, olive farming, rural economy, developing countries, environmental impact, Albania.
1. Introduction
The history of the olive tree in Albania is similar to that of neighboring countries. Many archeological expedites have indicated that olive cultivation in Albania coincides with that of other neighboring communities; the agricultural activities of Illyrian tribes, such as wheat cobs, truss grapes, and olive lops, were stamped in stones and coins [1].
Olive groves are mainly situated in the Southern and Western part of the country. It penetrates into the mainland through the river valleys by acclimating to the mountainous banks and hillsides. Many olive species are adapted to the pedo-climatic conditions by creating distinguishable economic, environmental and social values.
1.1 Olive Farming during Centralized Economic(Socialism) System
During the period of 1945-1990, the olive plantation area increased by 4.1 times. In 1945, the olive area was 10,000 ha with a number of 1.5 million trees. The peak was reached in 1990, where the olive plantations covered 6% of the total arable land (Table 1). Despite the area increase, yield production increased only by 1.6 times. Characteristic of that period of time have been low productivity (10-12 kv/ha) olive fruit [2]. Many factors have impacted the horticulture sector, some of which are: lack of economic strategic planning in the olive sector, a massive expansion of parcels in non-suitable areas, and low efficacy through the increase of non-productive areas. 1.2 Olive Farming After 1990s
After the change of governing system, a considerable part of olive groves were abandoned due to low productivity. Hence approx 10,000 ha of the olive plantations, or 22%, were destroyed or abandoned completely for a short period of time (Table 2).
According to the statistics, during the period 1992-2010 approximately ~3 million olive trees were planted, mainly in small parcels in low altitudes and hilly areas. The olive offspring used for planting mainly came from Italy and Greece, none controlled and none adapted genetic material related to the pedo-climatic conditions [3].
1.3 Agro-ecological Areas and Olive Territory Expansion
Albania is divided in four Agro-ecological areas based on their climate, land, topography and socio-economical features (Fig. 1). Four areas are named as the following: Western Lowlands, Central Albania, Southern mountainous area, and Central and Northern mountains area [3, 4]. Some objective factors that have influenced that designation are access to Agricultural Services, Infrastructure and Market Development [2].
Olive trees are cultivated mainly in the Mediterranean Climate Zone, which constitutes 36.2% of the territory and hosts over 60% of the Albanian population. Many attempts to expand that culture in vertical sections and other marginal areas have led to the expansion of olive trees into many marginal zones, as well as the old olive groves of Kruja, Tepelena, Tirana, Vlora, Berati etc.. An impressive variability on olive varieties is present in altitudes due to the soil and climatic conditions and especially linked to the climatic risks, such as droughts and low winter temperatures [2, 3].
Olive cultivation is distributed over 9 districts. Most important districts comprise: Vlora by (36.1%), Fieri (17.3%), Berati (16.4%), Tirana (11%) and Elbasani (7%). The highest productivity in olive production is reached mainly in the Southern regions: Saranda, Delvina, Vlora, Mallakastra, and the Central regions: Fieri, Berati, Elbasani and Tirana. These regions contribute 78% of total olive plantations; 75% of overall tree number and 80%-90% of the olive trees actually in production cycle. The olive trees age very differently. Olive trees of 40-50 years of age dominate by 50%, followed by trees over one century (more than 33%) and new olive groves that comprise 15%-17% [2].
According to the classification on the olive plantation types, the olive plantations in Albania are categorized as: (1) Low-input traditional plantations, and (2) Intensified traditional plantations—small parcels of highly intensive plantations are restricted in low levels.
The agriculture technology is traditional, where the maintenance level in olive groves is relatively low. There is a lack of paring, fertilization, irrigations and anti-parasitic treatments. Only in the last years have intensive modern plantations become more common, where new technologies have been adopted; however, they have been geared only towards new olive groves despite the fact that they are relatively small and vary from 0.25 to 1.2 ha.
In 2007, the Albanian Government has started implementations of supporting schemes to the farmers, which consists of enlargements of the olive groves, production of qualitative olive oils, certification of the products, production of organic olive oil, and expansion of native varieties in new plantations. Only in 2007, there were over 350 ha planted. In that stage of investments in agriculture, the policy needs to be focused on the enlargement of these parcels through land transactions as well as stimulation of farmers for new olive planting [2].
1.4 The Olive Oil and Table Olive Production and Consumption
According to FAOSTAT (2011), olive oil and table olives contribute $50.06 million to GDP, and this commodity is ranked 5th in comparison to other agricultural commodities in Albania. In world rankings to the olive commodity Albania stands in the 20th position. Production capacity in ‘On’ years is~50,000 tons and approximately 8,000 tons olive oil[5]. The olive grove area in 2010 reached 41,000 ha organized in approximately 90 thousand small farms. In total, the olive grove area covers 6.3% of the arable land in Albania. The farming days in olive agriculture practices, serving and harvesting, are approx. 1 million. This data give special interest to the olive culture not only in the socio-economic aspect, but that of the environmental aspect as well.
In the period 1992-2008, the mean annual yield varied between 35-55,000 tons olives, or approximately 6,000 tons olive oil, which is 2 liters/capita. Including the imports, the olive oil consumption is approximately 3 liters/capita. Compared to other European countries this value is low. For example: Italy 16 liters/capita, Greece 21 liters/capita, Spain 18 liters/capita.
2. Olive Oil Industry
The olive oil industry is already established in the main olive farming regions. The total number of olive mills is 131. They are distributed throughout the main olive cultivation districts, Table 3 [2]. During the last decade, $11 million were invested in that sector, mainly in establishing of new plants of advanced technologies. The overall capacity is approximately 88 tones/hour work. Unofficial sources give data of about 180 olive mills, which is linked in efforts to evade tax obligations (private communication).
This capacity is not used properly due to the low yields of olive fruits. In many cases, low quality of the raw material has negative impact in the quality of the olive oil. Another factor is the lack of deposit capacities, as well as application of the EU standards, in bottling lines. For the moment, financing for the purchase of raw material is not established. There is also a lack of specialized labs close to olive oil factories etc..
It has been shown that the disposal of olive mills wastes into rivers leads to the reduction of their biodiversity [6]. The reasons for this reduction are:
(1) The riverbed of the rivers become inactive because it is covered by the solid constituents of the wastes and the oil found in them.
(2) A lot of hydroid organisms absorb the solid constituents of the wastes. As a result, the most sensitive organisms die from suffocation or they immediately move away. Sometimes the deaths take place so fast and at such an extent that it is under question if the toxic constituents of the wastes had enough time to take effect.
(3) Due to the reduced discharge of the torrents and the medium rivers, as well as the fact that at the end of the olive season the arid season starts, the rivers and streams cannot clean up their riverbeds. Therefore, when the raining season starts again, only a few of the old hydroid organisms can colonize the polluted riverbeds again.
Olive by-products such as OVW (olive vegetation waters) and SW (solid wastes) are separated during the centrifugation or sedimentation after pressing of the crude olive cake. Its volume depends on the extraction system used in mills; it varies from 35-40 L/100 kg olive during pressing method, to 80-110 L/100 kg of olive during centrifugation method [7]. An estimation of OVW produced annually by olive mills varies to 250 × 105 kg.
3. Native Olive Varieties
Olive groves are planted mainly in hilly and mountainous area, which leads to difficulties in the application of new technologies in harvesting, transport, and processing of the olive fruit. An important characteristic is diversity in olive varieties. Six regions show a diversity of genotypes. Varieties used for olive oil and table olives are highly valued for their acclimatization toward the pedo-climatic conditions.
The olive varieties are classified into Principal and Secondary Varieties. Principal varieties cover big parcels in many regions, while Secondary varieties dominate in some olive groves, in their native region. Six Principal olive varieties belong to six important antic regions of olive cultivation: ‘Kalinjot’ (Vlore),‘Kokermadh Berati’ (Berati), ‘Mixan’ (Elbasani),‘Ulliri Bardh? i Tirana’ (Tirana), ‘Krypsi’ (Kruja) and‘Kallmeti’ variety (Lezha) [5].
‘Kalinjoti’ cultivar is distributed on other regions. It is used both as ‘oil olive’ and ‘table olive’ and show considerable resistance to the cold weather and droughts [1, 3].
According to their main usage autochthon olive varieties are classified as:
Table olive varieties—the most known are: Kokermadh Berati, Kokermadh Elbasani, Krypsi.
Oil olive varieties—Mixan, Ulliri bardh? Tirana, Ulliri bardhe Kruja, Kotruvs, Ulliri holle Himar?s, Kushani, etc..
Double use olive varieties—Kalinjoti, Krypsi, Bo?i. These varieties in the ‘Off’ years may be used as table olives, while in ‘On’ years their usage is olive oil.
Recently some studies have been conducted on the native olive cultivars (Table 4). Study of Fatty acid profiles for Kalinjoti, Ulliri Bardhe Tirana, Mixan, Kok?rrmadh Berati, Krypsi, Nisiot, Ulliri bardhe Lezha, Managjel, Peperr, etc., indicate the differences that these cultivars exhibit [8, 9].
Actual structure of number to the olive varieties is presented in Fig. 3. The main planted varieties are Kalinjoti and Kokermadh Berati. The first was greatly preferred in the past due to its double use as olive oil and table olive, while the second Kokermadh Berati is a table olive, and was exported in high rates in that time. Interesting is the presence of Frantoio variety, that among the foreign varieties was the best acclimatized in Albania. It now has a total contribution of 8%.
3.1. New Structure of Olive Plantations
The olive tree is distinguished by the conservation of its specifics; hence, distribution of varieties has been very limited over time. The removal of variety from its realm is accompanied by deep modifications in the morphology and production. These aspects appoint the importance of the autochthon varieties for all regions were olives are cultivated. Decisions on the future policies on the olive farming must be taken related to the advantages of the principal olive varieties in their territory origin. Hence, there is no reason why the Kalinjoti variety should replace the Fr?ngu variety in the Kruja and Tirana areas and so on.
A national project of olive planting has proposed the structure of the olive varieties that will be planted. It has started in 2007 and is going to be concluded in 2014. The proposed structure is made of 64% native varieties and 36% foreign varieties. The nucleus of native olive varieties will be protected in all regions. The main foreign varieties that successfully are adopted in Albania are: Frantoio, Leccino, Coratina, Koroneiki, Chalkidiki, Kallamon etc.. Some varieties like Bianchera of Northern Italian origin or Carolea of Calabria origin are adapted to mountainous and hilly regions in southern Albania.
Fig. 4 appoints the numbers of all the native varieties; the total number of native varieties is highlighted in bold. Based on the experience gained, it has now been decided to have more distributed schemes among native varieties. Hence the Ulliri bardh? Tirana is going to be augmented by 23% in total number of olive trees, while the Kalinjoti variety will be augmented slightly. In actual structure, the Kalinjoti variety dominates by 50% of the overall number, while in the new structure it possesses 35%.
In Fig. 5, the structure of foreing varieties that will be planted during the period of implementation is presented. In the list of foreign varieties, Leccino dominates by 38%, Frantoio by 25% and Arbequina by 24% of overall number.
In relation to the table olives, it is evident that Kok?rrmadh Berati is going to be predominant (Fig. 5). Due to special characteristics of the foreign varieties, they will have almost a quarter of the total number of table olives.
Due to the concentration of the Kokermadh Berati in its origin (Berati), the processing industry of table olive is concentrated in that region. Hence the Table olive will face problems in the near future if appropriate measures are not evaluated in regards to facilities construction.
There are several good publications that can be geared towards offering proper instructions to the farmers and olive oil producers such as Beafou [10] and Imbrahem [11].
4. National Supporting Scheme
Since 2007, the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection have implemented agricultural supporting schemes (Fig. 6). During the three-year period, the subsidies have increased by 60%. From 800 million ALL (Albanian Lek) it has gone to 1,400 million ALL. The increase of the area in the supporting scheme is very important. It provides support to the farmers of all commodities. In that framework, an important part belongs to olive farming. For the total ongoing period, 50% of total subsidies go to olive farming (Fig. 7). The olive farming scheme applied involves some limits. It gives support to individual farmers that plant no less than 4,000 m2 and group of farmers no less than 1 ha. As a result, 3,000 ha of olives were planted during the 2007-2010 period.
The supporting scheme is not well distributed all over the country. Differences among regions are distinguishable; Vlora and Fieri regions have taken the main stake of the supporting scheme by 175.5 million ALL [2].
For a big part of the southern regions, the olive culture is vital to the family’s economy. Regions of Vlora and Saranda, due to their geographical characteristics, have based their incomes on tourism and olive farming. Lack of economical resources has forced the young generation to emigrate from these regions. Recently, individual incentives have increased tourism incomes of families. The opposite is in the olive sector. It is evident that there is a lack of interest in that sector from these families due to the lack of subsidies. The role of government in that aspect will need to apply subsidies schemes for existing olive plantations by increasing the incomes of the families in these areas.
5. Conclusions
The olive tree creates the “Mediterranean forest”. The agricultural incomes, healthy diet, and environmental protection are closely connected with it. In the long run, olive oil production in Albania is going to experience success due to the subsidies in the new plantation or in regenerating/improving existing ones.
Another advantage in Albania is the labor availability and costs. Harvesting represents 30% to 50% of the total cultivation costs. The agricultural population reaches up to 50% that is directly related with the cost of the final product.
Olive oil gradually has acquired a separate identity, different from other oils and fats and therefore, has penetrated to new markets all over the world, besides the traditional Mediterranean ones.
Recommendations
Increasing of olive production can be supported not only by the increasing planted olive areas, but it can also be achieved through the yield increase. Restructuring of the marginal plantations will contribute to that goal. Application of subsidies schemes by the government will play a very important role.
Albania is striving to be an EU member in a short period of time; hence, the new planted olive trees will go to subsidies schemes when they will initially reach production. It is very important that when they reach that stage, olive sector will fully compete with other big EU producers. For that reason, olive farmers need the full support of the government.
The implementation of sound agricultural practices by the farmers will help in environmental protection and increase the quality of olive oil. The application of new technologies in the olive extraction process will increase the olive oil quality.
Production of the olive oils of ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ will help in the promotion of domestic production and compete with imported olive oils in domestic market. It can also play a role in the supposition that in the near future Albania will be an exporting country.
References
[1] N. Kafazi, Th. Mu?o, Olive Culture, Instituti Larte Bujqesor, Tirana, Albania, June, 1984.
[2] MBUMK, Study on actually situation of olive farming and perspectives on its development, QTTB, Tirana, Albania, 2009, p. 484.
[3] F. Thomaj, Dh. Panajoti, Olive germplasm in Albania, ILB, Tirana, 2004.
[4] F. Thomaj, Dh. Panajoti, Ndryshueshm?ria e kultivar?ve t? ullirit n?p?rmjet metodave multivariate, Revista Shqiptare e Shkencave Bujqesore 6 (4) (2005) 28-36.
[5] Food and agricultural commodities production by country, Food Agriculture Organization Home Page, www.faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx (accessed on April 11, 2012).
[6] K. Boreadou, Liquid wastes from olive mills—Effects on the natural water ecosystems of Crete-Present management of the wastes and tendencies, in: Conference of Management of Olive Wastes, Siteia, 1994.
[7] F.R. de Ursinos, Vegetation water used as fertilizer, in: Proceedings of International Symposium on Olive By-products Valorization, FAO, UNDP, Sevilla, Spain, 1986, pp. 321-330.
[8] D. Topi, F. Thomaj, A. Bacu, I. Malollari, A.P. Carvalho, A.M. Gomes, Fatty acid characterization and total polyphenol content of 7 olive varieties from Albania, in: Proceedings of 7th International Congress of Food Technologists, Biotechnologists, and Nutritionists, Opatia, Croatia, Sept. 20-23, 2011.
[9] D. Topi, F. Thomaj, A. Bacu, M. Koni, A.P. Carvalho, A.M. Gomes, Analytical evaluation of six Monovarietal virgin olive oils from Kruja Region, Albania, in: Proceedings of 2nd Int. ISEKI Food Conference, Milan, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2011.
[10] G. Beaufoy, The environmental impact of olive oil production in European Union: Practical options for improving the environmental impact, Brussels, Environment Directorate-General, European Commission, 2000, p. 73.
[11] A.A. Ibrahem, B. Boulouha, C. Gregoriou, M. El-Kholy, M. Ksantini, N. Serafidis, et al., Olive GAP Manual, Good Agriculture Practices for the Near East & North African Countries, FAO, Rome, 2009, p. 252.
Key words: Olea Europaea, olive farming, rural economy, developing countries, environmental impact, Albania.
1. Introduction
The history of the olive tree in Albania is similar to that of neighboring countries. Many archeological expedites have indicated that olive cultivation in Albania coincides with that of other neighboring communities; the agricultural activities of Illyrian tribes, such as wheat cobs, truss grapes, and olive lops, were stamped in stones and coins [1].
Olive groves are mainly situated in the Southern and Western part of the country. It penetrates into the mainland through the river valleys by acclimating to the mountainous banks and hillsides. Many olive species are adapted to the pedo-climatic conditions by creating distinguishable economic, environmental and social values.
1.1 Olive Farming during Centralized Economic(Socialism) System
During the period of 1945-1990, the olive plantation area increased by 4.1 times. In 1945, the olive area was 10,000 ha with a number of 1.5 million trees. The peak was reached in 1990, where the olive plantations covered 6% of the total arable land (Table 1). Despite the area increase, yield production increased only by 1.6 times. Characteristic of that period of time have been low productivity (10-12 kv/ha) olive fruit [2]. Many factors have impacted the horticulture sector, some of which are: lack of economic strategic planning in the olive sector, a massive expansion of parcels in non-suitable areas, and low efficacy through the increase of non-productive areas. 1.2 Olive Farming After 1990s
After the change of governing system, a considerable part of olive groves were abandoned due to low productivity. Hence approx 10,000 ha of the olive plantations, or 22%, were destroyed or abandoned completely for a short period of time (Table 2).
According to the statistics, during the period 1992-2010 approximately ~3 million olive trees were planted, mainly in small parcels in low altitudes and hilly areas. The olive offspring used for planting mainly came from Italy and Greece, none controlled and none adapted genetic material related to the pedo-climatic conditions [3].
1.3 Agro-ecological Areas and Olive Territory Expansion
Albania is divided in four Agro-ecological areas based on their climate, land, topography and socio-economical features (Fig. 1). Four areas are named as the following: Western Lowlands, Central Albania, Southern mountainous area, and Central and Northern mountains area [3, 4]. Some objective factors that have influenced that designation are access to Agricultural Services, Infrastructure and Market Development [2].
Olive trees are cultivated mainly in the Mediterranean Climate Zone, which constitutes 36.2% of the territory and hosts over 60% of the Albanian population. Many attempts to expand that culture in vertical sections and other marginal areas have led to the expansion of olive trees into many marginal zones, as well as the old olive groves of Kruja, Tepelena, Tirana, Vlora, Berati etc.. An impressive variability on olive varieties is present in altitudes due to the soil and climatic conditions and especially linked to the climatic risks, such as droughts and low winter temperatures [2, 3].
Olive cultivation is distributed over 9 districts. Most important districts comprise: Vlora by (36.1%), Fieri (17.3%), Berati (16.4%), Tirana (11%) and Elbasani (7%). The highest productivity in olive production is reached mainly in the Southern regions: Saranda, Delvina, Vlora, Mallakastra, and the Central regions: Fieri, Berati, Elbasani and Tirana. These regions contribute 78% of total olive plantations; 75% of overall tree number and 80%-90% of the olive trees actually in production cycle. The olive trees age very differently. Olive trees of 40-50 years of age dominate by 50%, followed by trees over one century (more than 33%) and new olive groves that comprise 15%-17% [2].
According to the classification on the olive plantation types, the olive plantations in Albania are categorized as: (1) Low-input traditional plantations, and (2) Intensified traditional plantations—small parcels of highly intensive plantations are restricted in low levels.
The agriculture technology is traditional, where the maintenance level in olive groves is relatively low. There is a lack of paring, fertilization, irrigations and anti-parasitic treatments. Only in the last years have intensive modern plantations become more common, where new technologies have been adopted; however, they have been geared only towards new olive groves despite the fact that they are relatively small and vary from 0.25 to 1.2 ha.
In 2007, the Albanian Government has started implementations of supporting schemes to the farmers, which consists of enlargements of the olive groves, production of qualitative olive oils, certification of the products, production of organic olive oil, and expansion of native varieties in new plantations. Only in 2007, there were over 350 ha planted. In that stage of investments in agriculture, the policy needs to be focused on the enlargement of these parcels through land transactions as well as stimulation of farmers for new olive planting [2].
1.4 The Olive Oil and Table Olive Production and Consumption
According to FAOSTAT (2011), olive oil and table olives contribute $50.06 million to GDP, and this commodity is ranked 5th in comparison to other agricultural commodities in Albania. In world rankings to the olive commodity Albania stands in the 20th position. Production capacity in ‘On’ years is~50,000 tons and approximately 8,000 tons olive oil[5]. The olive grove area in 2010 reached 41,000 ha organized in approximately 90 thousand small farms. In total, the olive grove area covers 6.3% of the arable land in Albania. The farming days in olive agriculture practices, serving and harvesting, are approx. 1 million. This data give special interest to the olive culture not only in the socio-economic aspect, but that of the environmental aspect as well.
In the period 1992-2008, the mean annual yield varied between 35-55,000 tons olives, or approximately 6,000 tons olive oil, which is 2 liters/capita. Including the imports, the olive oil consumption is approximately 3 liters/capita. Compared to other European countries this value is low. For example: Italy 16 liters/capita, Greece 21 liters/capita, Spain 18 liters/capita.
2. Olive Oil Industry
The olive oil industry is already established in the main olive farming regions. The total number of olive mills is 131. They are distributed throughout the main olive cultivation districts, Table 3 [2]. During the last decade, $11 million were invested in that sector, mainly in establishing of new plants of advanced technologies. The overall capacity is approximately 88 tones/hour work. Unofficial sources give data of about 180 olive mills, which is linked in efforts to evade tax obligations (private communication).
This capacity is not used properly due to the low yields of olive fruits. In many cases, low quality of the raw material has negative impact in the quality of the olive oil. Another factor is the lack of deposit capacities, as well as application of the EU standards, in bottling lines. For the moment, financing for the purchase of raw material is not established. There is also a lack of specialized labs close to olive oil factories etc..
It has been shown that the disposal of olive mills wastes into rivers leads to the reduction of their biodiversity [6]. The reasons for this reduction are:
(1) The riverbed of the rivers become inactive because it is covered by the solid constituents of the wastes and the oil found in them.
(2) A lot of hydroid organisms absorb the solid constituents of the wastes. As a result, the most sensitive organisms die from suffocation or they immediately move away. Sometimes the deaths take place so fast and at such an extent that it is under question if the toxic constituents of the wastes had enough time to take effect.
(3) Due to the reduced discharge of the torrents and the medium rivers, as well as the fact that at the end of the olive season the arid season starts, the rivers and streams cannot clean up their riverbeds. Therefore, when the raining season starts again, only a few of the old hydroid organisms can colonize the polluted riverbeds again.
Olive by-products such as OVW (olive vegetation waters) and SW (solid wastes) are separated during the centrifugation or sedimentation after pressing of the crude olive cake. Its volume depends on the extraction system used in mills; it varies from 35-40 L/100 kg olive during pressing method, to 80-110 L/100 kg of olive during centrifugation method [7]. An estimation of OVW produced annually by olive mills varies to 250 × 105 kg.
3. Native Olive Varieties
Olive groves are planted mainly in hilly and mountainous area, which leads to difficulties in the application of new technologies in harvesting, transport, and processing of the olive fruit. An important characteristic is diversity in olive varieties. Six regions show a diversity of genotypes. Varieties used for olive oil and table olives are highly valued for their acclimatization toward the pedo-climatic conditions.
The olive varieties are classified into Principal and Secondary Varieties. Principal varieties cover big parcels in many regions, while Secondary varieties dominate in some olive groves, in their native region. Six Principal olive varieties belong to six important antic regions of olive cultivation: ‘Kalinjot’ (Vlore),‘Kokermadh Berati’ (Berati), ‘Mixan’ (Elbasani),‘Ulliri Bardh? i Tirana’ (Tirana), ‘Krypsi’ (Kruja) and‘Kallmeti’ variety (Lezha) [5].
‘Kalinjoti’ cultivar is distributed on other regions. It is used both as ‘oil olive’ and ‘table olive’ and show considerable resistance to the cold weather and droughts [1, 3].
According to their main usage autochthon olive varieties are classified as:
Table olive varieties—the most known are: Kokermadh Berati, Kokermadh Elbasani, Krypsi.
Oil olive varieties—Mixan, Ulliri bardh? Tirana, Ulliri bardhe Kruja, Kotruvs, Ulliri holle Himar?s, Kushani, etc..
Double use olive varieties—Kalinjoti, Krypsi, Bo?i. These varieties in the ‘Off’ years may be used as table olives, while in ‘On’ years their usage is olive oil.
Recently some studies have been conducted on the native olive cultivars (Table 4). Study of Fatty acid profiles for Kalinjoti, Ulliri Bardhe Tirana, Mixan, Kok?rrmadh Berati, Krypsi, Nisiot, Ulliri bardhe Lezha, Managjel, Peperr, etc., indicate the differences that these cultivars exhibit [8, 9].
Actual structure of number to the olive varieties is presented in Fig. 3. The main planted varieties are Kalinjoti and Kokermadh Berati. The first was greatly preferred in the past due to its double use as olive oil and table olive, while the second Kokermadh Berati is a table olive, and was exported in high rates in that time. Interesting is the presence of Frantoio variety, that among the foreign varieties was the best acclimatized in Albania. It now has a total contribution of 8%.
3.1. New Structure of Olive Plantations
The olive tree is distinguished by the conservation of its specifics; hence, distribution of varieties has been very limited over time. The removal of variety from its realm is accompanied by deep modifications in the morphology and production. These aspects appoint the importance of the autochthon varieties for all regions were olives are cultivated. Decisions on the future policies on the olive farming must be taken related to the advantages of the principal olive varieties in their territory origin. Hence, there is no reason why the Kalinjoti variety should replace the Fr?ngu variety in the Kruja and Tirana areas and so on.
A national project of olive planting has proposed the structure of the olive varieties that will be planted. It has started in 2007 and is going to be concluded in 2014. The proposed structure is made of 64% native varieties and 36% foreign varieties. The nucleus of native olive varieties will be protected in all regions. The main foreign varieties that successfully are adopted in Albania are: Frantoio, Leccino, Coratina, Koroneiki, Chalkidiki, Kallamon etc.. Some varieties like Bianchera of Northern Italian origin or Carolea of Calabria origin are adapted to mountainous and hilly regions in southern Albania.
Fig. 4 appoints the numbers of all the native varieties; the total number of native varieties is highlighted in bold. Based on the experience gained, it has now been decided to have more distributed schemes among native varieties. Hence the Ulliri bardh? Tirana is going to be augmented by 23% in total number of olive trees, while the Kalinjoti variety will be augmented slightly. In actual structure, the Kalinjoti variety dominates by 50% of the overall number, while in the new structure it possesses 35%.
In Fig. 5, the structure of foreing varieties that will be planted during the period of implementation is presented. In the list of foreign varieties, Leccino dominates by 38%, Frantoio by 25% and Arbequina by 24% of overall number.
In relation to the table olives, it is evident that Kok?rrmadh Berati is going to be predominant (Fig. 5). Due to special characteristics of the foreign varieties, they will have almost a quarter of the total number of table olives.
Due to the concentration of the Kokermadh Berati in its origin (Berati), the processing industry of table olive is concentrated in that region. Hence the Table olive will face problems in the near future if appropriate measures are not evaluated in regards to facilities construction.
There are several good publications that can be geared towards offering proper instructions to the farmers and olive oil producers such as Beafou [10] and Imbrahem [11].
4. National Supporting Scheme
Since 2007, the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection have implemented agricultural supporting schemes (Fig. 6). During the three-year period, the subsidies have increased by 60%. From 800 million ALL (Albanian Lek) it has gone to 1,400 million ALL. The increase of the area in the supporting scheme is very important. It provides support to the farmers of all commodities. In that framework, an important part belongs to olive farming. For the total ongoing period, 50% of total subsidies go to olive farming (Fig. 7). The olive farming scheme applied involves some limits. It gives support to individual farmers that plant no less than 4,000 m2 and group of farmers no less than 1 ha. As a result, 3,000 ha of olives were planted during the 2007-2010 period.
The supporting scheme is not well distributed all over the country. Differences among regions are distinguishable; Vlora and Fieri regions have taken the main stake of the supporting scheme by 175.5 million ALL [2].
For a big part of the southern regions, the olive culture is vital to the family’s economy. Regions of Vlora and Saranda, due to their geographical characteristics, have based their incomes on tourism and olive farming. Lack of economical resources has forced the young generation to emigrate from these regions. Recently, individual incentives have increased tourism incomes of families. The opposite is in the olive sector. It is evident that there is a lack of interest in that sector from these families due to the lack of subsidies. The role of government in that aspect will need to apply subsidies schemes for existing olive plantations by increasing the incomes of the families in these areas.
5. Conclusions
The olive tree creates the “Mediterranean forest”. The agricultural incomes, healthy diet, and environmental protection are closely connected with it. In the long run, olive oil production in Albania is going to experience success due to the subsidies in the new plantation or in regenerating/improving existing ones.
Another advantage in Albania is the labor availability and costs. Harvesting represents 30% to 50% of the total cultivation costs. The agricultural population reaches up to 50% that is directly related with the cost of the final product.
Olive oil gradually has acquired a separate identity, different from other oils and fats and therefore, has penetrated to new markets all over the world, besides the traditional Mediterranean ones.
Recommendations
Increasing of olive production can be supported not only by the increasing planted olive areas, but it can also be achieved through the yield increase. Restructuring of the marginal plantations will contribute to that goal. Application of subsidies schemes by the government will play a very important role.
Albania is striving to be an EU member in a short period of time; hence, the new planted olive trees will go to subsidies schemes when they will initially reach production. It is very important that when they reach that stage, olive sector will fully compete with other big EU producers. For that reason, olive farmers need the full support of the government.
The implementation of sound agricultural practices by the farmers will help in environmental protection and increase the quality of olive oil. The application of new technologies in the olive extraction process will increase the olive oil quality.
Production of the olive oils of ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ will help in the promotion of domestic production and compete with imported olive oils in domestic market. It can also play a role in the supposition that in the near future Albania will be an exporting country.
References
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[2] MBUMK, Study on actually situation of olive farming and perspectives on its development, QTTB, Tirana, Albania, 2009, p. 484.
[3] F. Thomaj, Dh. Panajoti, Olive germplasm in Albania, ILB, Tirana, 2004.
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