Low farm prices and expensive market sales, cucumber farmers in Elbasan raise concerns over minimal profits

Farmers in the Muriqan area are selling cucumbers for just 20 old lek per kilogram, while the same product is sold to buyers in markets across the country at a price several times higher.

At a time when greenhouse production has reached its peak, they describe the situation as very difficult. Although production has been good, the income they earn is not enough to cover expenses, while the gap between the price they receive at the farm and the one paid in the market remains wide.

Farmer Marsel Cani says: “At the moment, the price is 20 old lek. Even at 20 lek, even if you handle it well, they still won’t take it. I don’t even know myself where the blame lies. People buy it there for 150 lek in the shop, and they don’t go and ask why it is so expensive. The trader takes it from me for 20 lek and sells it for 50 lek. Then it passes through five hands before it reaches the consumer.”

According to him, farmers are the most disadvantaged part of the entire trading chain, even though all the costs and daily work in the field fall on them.

“Are you farmers the ones who always get the least? Yes, the one sitting in the shade with air conditioning gets more. He gets tired too, because every job has its hardships, but he earns more than I do, even though I stay here all day. I came here at 5 in the morning, and now it is 11 o’clock, and I still haven’t gone home,” Cani says.

High production costs, combined with low selling prices, are pushing many farmers toward financial trouble. Adding to this situation is the lack of labor, which farmers say they are feeling more and more with each passing year.

Dissatisfied with the reality he is experiencing, the farmer says he now considers himself bankrupt and is thinking about leaving the country.

“I’m staying only out of spite, because I want to recover my money. Otherwise, I wouldn’t stay at all. But I have debts. I am bankrupt, not heading toward bankruptcy. I regret it deeply. I’ll take my children and leave. At least I’ll be calmer over there,” the farmer says.

Although the greenhouses in Muriqan and the entire agricultural area of Elbasan continue production, farmers are calling for more support through concrete policies and a fairer market, so that their work does not end in losses and the abandonment of agriculture.