A new historic high was reached by the mandarin production from the country’s most famous private-run collective farm in Xarra. The cooperative is relatively unique in Albania’s fragmented farm system, however it is meeting domestic consumption needs and is trying to expand its exports to Poland.
The Tirana Times reported that these growers in the southernmost part of Albania had a record production of about 18,000 metric tons from about 500 hectares of mandarins. The cooperative venture has some 85,000 trees, of which 75,000 are mandarins.
These 500 hectares of mandarins produce about 16,000 metric tons each year. At a price of 45 lek (0.33 euros) per kg this amounts to 6 million euros. Most international exports are destined for Kosovo, Macedonia and Poland. Mid-term targets are to increase citrus production to about 50,000 metric tons and employ about 1,000 people.
