Record price for tomatoes, costing 350 ALL/kg / Farmers: We feel ashamed, but costs have increased

Albanians are consuming much less tomatoes this season not because of pesticides or quality concerns, but due to the high price, which is keeping this product off the table. Farmers are selling tomatoes at 250 ALL/kg, but by the time they reach Tirana, transportation adds another 100 ALL/kg for consumers.

“I sell 1 kg of tomatoes for 250 ALL and I feel ashamed, because it’s very expensive, but we have high costs and we are in extreme conditions as farmers,” said farmer Qerim Elezi.

Production in Qerim Elezi’s greenhouse has been cut in half this year, mainly due to extreme climate changes.

“With 2 dynym of land, I should have produced at least 200 quintals, but now I’m not sure I’ll even reach 50 quintals so I’m down by 150 quintals. Climate changes and lack of sunlight in November caused the plants to rot and not bear fruit,” he explained.

According to the farmer from the village of Hardhi in Belsh, there are several reasons behind the price surge. The main ones are climate change and the November floods in villages of Berat and Dimal, such as Samatica and Drenovica areas known for greenhouse farming. In this early agricultural season, they are not producing due to crop damage from flooding.

This situation has led to a shortage of tomatoes in the market. As a result, consumers may increasingly rely on imported vegetables, which often lack the taste and aroma of local produce.

“KORÇA BOOM”