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Country Profile: Albania
The Republic of Albania is a Balkan country in South-eastern Europe. Albania is one of the poorest in Europe. Unemployment is high and poverty widespread. Agriculture, an important sector, relies on antiquated equipment and old-fashioned methods.
Capital: Tirana
Population: 3,581,655
Life expectancy: 74 years (male) 80 years (female)
Population below national poverty line: 25% (2004 est.)
GDP: $20.21 billion
GDP per capita: $5,600 (2006 est.)
Religion: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
Languages: Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, nearly 500,000 ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo spilled over the border, imposing a huge burden on Albania's already fragile economy.
Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in south-eastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU
Bóthar in Albania: Bóthar began working in Albania in 1999. Bóthar provides families with dairy cows, dairy goats, agricultural and veterinary supplies, and an A.I. program. We also provide I. T. equipment and extensionist support in order to maintain and support the highly effective programme there.
The dairy heifers used in the Bóthar projects have all been sourced in Ireland. The first airlift of dairy heifers went to Albania in September 1999, since then there have been 9 airlifts of dairy heifers from Ireland. Bóthar intend to continue sending dairy heifers from Ireland to Albania.
Bóthar has also airlifted 200 dairy goats to Albania from France in conjunction with its project partners Heifer France in December 2002. Bóthar and Heifer France airlifted a second load of 160 dairy goats to Albania in October 2004.
ALBANIA
Project Title: Support Farmer Families in Kavaja region with Holstein Heifers
Location: Lekaj Commune, Kavaja region
Total number of families: 60 families
Animals: 60 in-calf dairy heifers sourced in Ireland
Other inputs: Agricultural supplies and equipment including concentrated feed (50kg per farmers), veterinary supplies and semen for A.I.
Training: All 60 farmers and the ‘pass-on’ beneficiaries will receive training on the key issues of sustainable, intensive dairy farming. The beneficiaries will also visit other project sites in Albania that have received Irish dairy cows.
Brief synopsis of the project: 60 Irish in calf heifers will be sent to Albania by air and then transported to 60 families in the Lekaj Commune, near the capital Tirana. All beneficiaries will receive training in advanced animal husbandry, dairy processing etc.
Pass-on obligations: Each beneficiary farmer will pass on for each heifer they have received; it will be the first female offspring, with the same age and quality as the original when it is passed on. Only in the situation where a cow has three successive calvings that produce male offspring, the third bull calf will be sold and its value will be used to purchase other animals for the community.
Expected benefits: Local farmers are receiving a sustainable income from the sale of milk to nearby markets. Beneficiary children’s diets are improving from the consumption of milk and other dairy projects.
Co-financing partners: Bóthar is covering the whole project including the sourcing of high quality livestock from Ireland
Local partners: Farmers Community of Kavaja and the Agriculture Directory in Kavaja Region will contribute with part of the training and technical assistance.
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