Organic products, a profitable and sustainable agricultural business

¹Flora Merko, ²Stilian Apostoli, ²Henrieta Themelko

¹MBZHRAU, Financier
²Agriculture University of Tirana, Albania

Abstract
Organic production is an overall system of farming management and food production that combines best environmental practices, a high level of biodiversity, the preservation of natural resources and a production method in line with the preference of certain consumers for products using natural substances and processes. Its aim is not the profit but the promotion of sustainable agricultural development.
Albanian farmers, are increasingly adding greenhouses for BIO products, and attracting the attention of local customers and foreign traders. Albania has great and unexploited potentials to develop organic agriculture and tourism. The SWOT analysis concerning organic agriculture in Albania resulted in defining this sector as beneficial to farmers as well as to all the Albanian economy, through increasing farmers’ income and exports alike. The purpose of this paper is to show that the organic production in general and organic greenhouses in particular, is a profitable and sustainable business. This production is considered an advantage in order to increase the export opportunities in the region and beyond, enabling the increase of Albanian products competitiveness, reducing imports and increasing exports.

Keywords: Organic products, organic farming, organic greenhouse, input, budget, OAA, strategy, SWOT.