Agropuka

AGROPUKA is an association of agriculture and livestock producers in Puka district (Northern Albania). AGROPUKA has been established in 2001 with the significant support of Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). Since then, the association has increased its membership from 37 to 346 members and has extended its activity and services to meet the need of its members and larger community. AGROPUKA association is governed by a board that is elected by the assembly of the association. The board elects the President of the association and appoints the Executive Director. The Executive Director deals with daily management of the association.

AGROPUKA is a producers’ association that is well organized and professionally managed by local people. Its activities and projects intend to meet needs of its membership and farmers in general. Members of AGROPUKA contribute for the subsidized services provided such as training and advice and mechanization of agriculture. Cooperation is an important value at AGROPUKA. Cooperation groups of interest with orientation to production for the market have been established mainly for, rearing of goats, women processing groups, young beekeepers group, Non-timber forest products cooperation group and Study Circle groups. One of the most important developments of AGROPUKA association has been the establishment of groups of interest of women for processing of fruits and other products. There are six functional groups of women in the most productive areas of Puka district. This experience is planned to be replicated in other regions of North East Albania, respectively to start with Kukes and Tropoja.

The target groups

The target groups of AGROPUKA association include:

·         Members of AGROPUKA association who are active and contribute to further enhance the income generation opportunities of the rural population of the Puka district focusing on the promotion of giving sustainable added values to agriculture and livestock products.

·         Producers who are producing good quality of products and are selling these products with support of or through AGROPUKA association’s marketing sector.

·         Women groups of interest who, through their contribution, help in improving the social and economic situation of women in the district of Puka and other North eastern districts of Albania

·         Youth and youth groups who, through their contribution, help in improving the social and economic situation of women in the district of Puka and other North eastern districts of Albania

And in a more general sense

·         All farmers of Puka district producing products of agriculture, animal husbandry or other fields related that are marketable in the local, regional and external markets will profit from the activities of Agropuka.

·         Farmers/producers of mountainous regions of Albania who will profit from the experience of AGROPUKA.