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Frost destroys orchards in Devoll/ Farmers: The damage is catastrophic

2026-05-21 09:00:00, Sociale CNA

The severe frosts of May 3 and 4 have brought an extremely difficult situation to farmers in Devoll, causing massive damage to orchards and seriously endangering the economy of hundreds of families who live off agriculture.

In villages from Progri to Kapshtica, farmers say that apple, cherry and plum production has been almost completely damaged, with many reporting losses amounting to millions of old lek. In the orchards of the area, the picture is bleak.

The newly-ripened fruits have fallen to the ground, leaving bare branches just weeks before the season when farmers were hoping to secure their annual income. They say sub-zero temperatures, which in some areas dropped to minus 5 degrees, hit the trees at the most critical moment of their development.

Farmer Ermal Pogoni says that the damage to the orchard is total and that the investments made so far risk being completely lost. He says that his family alone has about 5 hectares of orchards and the economic damage is very great.

" Our only concern is that we suffered damage on May 4, when there was a frost and the damage to the orchard is almost 100%. As you can see, all the apples are falling. I have about 5 hectares with my uncle. The damage we could have now is 20 million old lek. Yes, we have almost all the services done ," said the farmer.

However, even though this year's production is considered lost, farmers cannot stop working in the orchards. They say they must continue treatments and spraying, otherwise they risk next year's production. According to him, the situation is the same throughout the Devoll area and many farmers are considering leaving, as they can no longer afford the high costs of farming.

" We will continue with the medicines because we want to keep them. We are afraid of the various diseases that may occur. This procedure is also done for the coming year because if we leave something lacking, we may have problems for the next year as well. There are problems with apples, cherries, plums, everything. It is the same situation everywhere. It is the same situation from the village of Proger to Kapshtica. Because we know what solution we will have now. The only solution is to just leave somewhere, because this situation is no longer tolerated here ," said the farmer.

Farmer Medat Rusi also speaks of an economic catastrophe in the entire Devoll area. He says that the damages are no longer measured in millions, but in billions of old lek, while investments for each dunyam have become increasingly costly. Rusi says that up until now he has invested millions of lek in the orchard, while costs have increased significantly compared to previous years.

"The damage in our fields, both in the Zamblaku Gorge and up to Kapshtica, has been done in billions, not millions of lekë. I have 12 dunyas, I have spent 7 million lekë so far. Medicines have gone up, the price of medicines, oil has doubled. The damage is 100% and will exceed 100%. If you go to the field, you won't find even a single apple. We won't even have anything to eat ," said the farmer Rusi.

He is seeking support from the state, at least to cover the expenses incurred so far and to preserve the trees for next year.

" The state hasn't subsidized even one year. This year, at least subsidize the expenses, so that we have a lek to spend again ," said the farmer.

In the village of Mançurisht, farmer Gazmor Azo says that negative temperatures destroyed all the work done over months in one night. He also says that although this year's production has been lost, farmers must continue investing in trees.

" I have 3 and a half hectares damaged. It was damaged between May 3 and 4 by the decrease in temperatures, it was in negative values, minus 4 to 5 degrees. And as you can see, the damage is colossal. Almost 100%. The apple requires treatments again, because we are in May and until mid-June we continue with the spraying, to maintain the foliage so that we have flowers again next year. The situation is emergency, it is more or less like in cases of floods or earthquakes when the damage is very great. And we hope that the state will help us ", said the farmer.

Meanwhile, the mayor of the village of Mançurisht, Sulejman Meço, confirms that the damage to fruit crops is almost total and affects the entire Devoll area. He says that the responsible institutions have been notified of the situation, while the farmers are awaiting a concrete reaction.

" We were affected by the frost, looking at the extent of the damage, it could be over 95%, such as damage to fruit growing. There may have been some cherries, some plums. But over 95-98% are damaged. We have signaled to them that the damage is very great. What decision or what request will be made to the ministry, depends on them ," said the mayor.

According to Meço, for many families in the area, the main income is provided by orchards and the loss of this season seriously jeopardizes their livelihoods.

" The income for our village is mainly these, namely apples, plums, cherries. Even according to all the villagers, the damage is colossal ," said Meço.

Farmers are demanding immediate verification of the damages on the ground and financial support from the state, as they believe that without assistance they will find it impossible to cope with the next agricultural season and keep the orchards alive in the Devoll area.