In the wheat planting season, the farmers of the Korca region seem undecided as they have not yet managed to sell last year’s production.
Fuat Orhani, from the village of Rëmbec, one of the largest producers of wheat in the area, says that year after year has reduced the area he cultivates due to the lack of market for his grain, the low selling price and the favored exports.
From the 50 ha he used to cultivate, he has now reduced the area to 15 ha, while he says that he still has the produced wheat in storage as he has not sold it. Low market price in the face of increased production costs is the main factor hindering sales.
“Currently, I have over 1200 kv stored and I have bought the seed for new plantings, but the prices are expensive. We have not sold a single kg. Price is below cost, worse than below cost. Wheat cannot be sold for 26, 27 or 28 lek, this is a disaster for a farmer”, he says.
Last year, the area cultivated with wheat in the Korça region increased by 1100 ha, while the main challenge for wheat producers remains the cost of production, which forces them to sell at higher prices than the products that come from imports.
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