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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The country's production is running out, as the still high number of tourists is keeping consumption at high levels. After two months of restraint, the prices of vegetables and potatoes experienced an annual increase of 24 percent in September, INSTAT reported.
In the entire basket of goods that make up the consumption of Albanian families, the prices of vegetables and potatoes experienced the highest increase.
Their growth is threatening the family budget, as they are the main product of the basket. Sources from the minority market claimed that local production is insufficient, especially for onions and potatoes. In June, the increase in prices in this group started to soften due to the entry of seasonal products into the market, but they are not enough to cover autumn and winter consumption.
Finding supplies is becoming difficult and imports are partially covering the consumption of potatoes and carrots.
The prices of vegetables have seen an unusual increase this year even though the agricultural season is still at its peak.
Traders claim that there are three factors that are dictating prices in this group, export, obstacles in production and the high number of tourists.
Climate change created difficulties for agricultural production in the EU this year. As a result, many products, such as tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, etc., access the markets of developed countries such as Italy and Germany.
Drought in some countries and floods in some others in Europe, as a result of climate change from the "El Nino" phenomenon, have damaged production in some agricultural crops that are being sold at higher prices.
In the domestic market, the prices of agricultural products have increased throughout the chain from production to retail.
According to INSTAT data, in the first 6 months of the year, agricultural exports in value were 21% higher than the same period last year, but the increase in quantity was only 4.7%.
On the other hand, the million tourists who visited our country during the summer season increased the consumption of local products, and on the other hand, the cultivated areas remained unchanged or decreased for some crops due to the lack of labor force and the abandonment of the village.
The government last year directed farmers to plant wheat as a result of import problems created by the war in Ukraine, but while the market stabilized, farmers' stone remained in stock, while a gap was created in the market in the supply of greens.
Consumers are facing high living costs. The situation is more serious in the group of pensioners where about 48% of them receive partial pension payments, far from the vital minimum./Monitor
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