Decorative trees, a new development opportunity for Dajçi/ The area's mayor seeks support and subsidies

2025-12-01 13:16:00, Aktualitet CNA

Decorative trees, a new development opportunity for Dajçi/ The

The Dajçi area in Shkodra, known for its fertile soils and favorable climate, is increasingly emerging as an area with high potential for cultivating ornamental plants and trees.

Tom Pjetrani, the village headman, who has been dealing with decorative trees for 15 years, says that the market is open, and the trees are being exported mainly to Italy.

However, he emphasizes that setting up such an activity requires significant investments, while the lack of infrastructure and the problem of irrigation remain the main challenges.

"It has been a good year for ornamental trees. All farmers have worked. As for livestock or agriculture, Dajçi is on the verge of elimination in livestock and everyone is dealing with ornamental trees because the prices are not worth it for dealing with livestock, while they have worked hard with ornamental trees. The main market is in Kosovo, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Greece. About 60% of the population of Dajçi deals with ornamental trees, so the few residents who remain deal with nurseries, the trees that they plant in nature. I have 50 planted acres, I also have greenhouses that produce seedlings for the market and my interests. I have been dealing with it for 15 years, while for 20 years I have worked with berries, now we are focused on ornamental trees because they have better income. According to him, the lands of the area are very cultivable, but the state's policies over the years have influenced the depopulation of Dajçi, significantly increasing emigration", said Tom Pjetran, the headman of the village of Dajç.

Pjetrani further stated that the state should also think about subsidies.

"It could be because there is a lack of labor. Most have left and are leaving every day. It is the policies that are making people leave. Our area is wonderful, God has blessed it, both with nature and with land and everything. Young people are leaving for a better life. The state should think about subsidies. There are some new companies that have started work and if they are helped it is a good thing because you need a lot of income to open a business because this work is very laborious. This plant where we are is taking 4-5 years to be ready for the market and labor is very expensive and there are few people. If you put your hand in this area it is a good thing. We also have a problem with irrigation, we are at the mercy of God. We are surrounded by water, water drowns us and we have no water. For irrigation, someone has drilled holes, someone at the mercy of God. This makes it difficult because if there is water, an impaint comes out a year earlier because plants need water", he said.

Today, ornamental trees account for 60% of the area's income, being one of the most important sources of the local economy. /CNA