Photo Credit: USAID/Albania   In May 2009, USAID launched the RASTI program, a network established for information sharing and cooperation between students or young farmers interested in agribusiness and agriculture.

Albanian Agriculture Competitiveness Program (AAC)

Duration: July 2007- July 2012

Partners: Development Alternatives Inc.

• Michigan State University
• Land O’ Lakes
• OTF Group Inc.
• Rural Development Institute
• Training Resource Group
• Institute for Development Research and Alternatives

Offices: Central office in Tirana with regional offices in Korça and Lushnja

Description:
This five-year program supports the sustained growth of Albania’s agricultural sector and increase in rural household income by developing and strengthening the competitiveness capacity of producers of high-value agricultural products. The AAC program assists farmers in improving the productivity of their operations and their responsiveness to trade conditions and opportunities. AAC provides a complementary effort to other on-going USAID projects in enabling Albanian farmers to be competitive in the domestic and global markets. To date, AAC is assisting farmers growing the following four commodities: fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, melons and olives.