In the last decade, extreme climate phenomena with floods, droughts and fires have become annual, unlike in the past, while Civil Protection emergencies are undergoing a transition of powers between central and local government, leading to consequences of mismanagement. and situations.

Experts from the Agricultural University of Tirana claim that production will decrease by 10% in the next three decades, due to climate change, while giving advice for intervention in all areas of the country, for crops that are damaged. Thousands of hectares flooded during the spring in Shkodra and 1200 hectares recently flooded in the South will directly affect the reduction of production and impoverishment of affected people

The water flooded Fatmir Çela's newly planted cucumber greenhouse in Samatic, Berat, and in a few hours, the level went more than 50 centimeters. Everything collapsed during the day, from the rains in early December. 3 million lekë investments per 1 hectare where the early spring vegetables were being cultivated, were debts to the sellers of seeds, seedlings and other inputs, while the missing profits further aggravate the situation.

The lands in Samatic and Kutalli of Berat, one of the most productive areas in the country, mainly for greenhouse vegetables, have been flooded three times in the last decade and drought has destroyed crops more than five times.

Gentiani, a farmer in the area, says agricultural produce is dependent on weather and rainfall, but in recent years extreme events have become more frequent and a major problem. "We are very dependent on the weather conditions, as neither the drainage nor the irrigation canals work. "If there was rain, we have production, if they are abundant, we will be flooded at all", said the farmer.

The Ministry of Agriculture reported that the recent rains flooded 1,200 hectares of land in the South, most of which were planted, somewhere with greenhouses, wheat and alfalfa and fodder for livestock. These floods will not only negatively affect farmers' budgets, but the entire economy of the country, with a decline in agricultural production for the next season. This will bring higher prices in the spring of 2022 and will negatively affect exports, as happened in 2017.

Ever since mankind began cultivating the food base in the field, the climatic factor has been key to yield, but in the last two decades, extreme weather events have increased greatly and the damage is great.

On the other hand, Albania has limited capacities, such as in civil emergencies to deal with natural disasters and does not have sufficient financial capacities to provide protection for farmers against the effects of climate.

Evans Rroko, professor at the Agricultural University of Tirana, said that studies suggest that climate change for some plants will cause a decline in production of about 10% by 2050. Other consequences are related to the reduction of production quality, especially fruits and vegetables. , or even in the loss of agricultural land qualities, from increased salinization, reduction of soil organic matter, or even soil loss from increased erosion, said the professor, who has studied the impact of climate on agriculture throughout the Albanian territory .

Agricultural extension experts have noted drought prolongations, more frequent temperature changes, floods, premature rainfall and even frosts above the average level of the last 10 years. Most respondents think that such phenomena are caused by climate change. Agricultural professionals attest to the high impact of climate, especially on plant diseases (increased prevalence) and reduced yields.

Albanian farms, in addition to the aggravation of climate impacts, also suffer from a lack of state support, high fragmentation, lack of connection to markets and, consequently, low profits.

A group of experts from Albania, who have worked on a study of how Mediterranean agriculture is being affected by climate change, point out that in developing, or poorer countries like Albania, the most vulnerable economic sector affected by climate change is agriculture.

Southern Europe seems to be one of the most sensitive areas in Europe to be affected by climate change. Albania is the second country most exposed to the increase of extreme climate conditions, notes a study, which was based on a survey of 140 agricultural experts across the country, who had collected evidence of climate events and how they had affected our agriculture.

Economic activity in Albania is highly dependent on agriculture, because it is the sector with the largest contribution to GDP, with about 19% of the total and its exposure to climate change would affect the entire economy.

It has been observed that the increase in temperature is changing the harvest period for cereals, the production cycle, but will also affect the increase of weeds. New disease pests will appear, from rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall.

Vegetables, grapes and olives in lowland areas and corn in mountainous areas will be damaged by climate change in terms of yields. While positive effects will be seen for cereals in lowland areas and fodder in mountainous areas, experts report.

The survey of 140 agricultural professionals found that, 24% of respondents perceive a high level of information on climate change. While 63% of respondents are very informed about the impact of climate change on agriculture.

More than half of agricultural experts, about 55% of them, think that "farm innovation grants" are the most important. While 44% of the sample considered very important the support of investment policies in terms of irrigation and drainage infrastructure.

According to them, it is also very important for the government to support the recovery from disasters and the failure of the harvest.

As the dangers of climate change become more frequent, with fires in summer, floods in winter and often earthquakes, government-coordinated Civil Emergencies are going through a transition, as seen in the last two years, since the earthquake of 26 November 2019, operation lags.

The new Law on Civil Emergencies, which was adopted almost three years ago, has transferred disaster management to local government. Municipalities are obliged by law to make 4% of the annual budget available to civil protection. While the Civil Defense Agency, a structure within the Ministry of Defense has taken on a coordinating role.

Its intervention for the management of natural emergency situations is done only in the case when the municipalities have made available all the logistics and human capacities, but they are insufficient, explained the official sources from the Ministry of Defense.

But the events of this year showed that the municipalities in Albania, although they have received competencies by law, have not created special structures.

When the fire broke out in the mountains of Kukës this summer, the Municipality had only one employee and one vehicle available, unable to withstand the flames that invaded the mountains. The same case was in the Municipality of Shkodra, where in the spring of this year, thousands of hectares were flooded.

The conflict over competencies with the central government did not help the situation. Sources from the Ministry of Defense stated that the local government, the prefectures throughout the country have at their disposal the management of floods with boats and speedboats, 85 suction water pumps and water supply and 167 ambulances, 524 shelters and 6 generators.

While the Armed Forces, in cases of civil emergencies, currently have available 20 vehicles for transport of people, 20 vehicles for transport of goods, 15 medium trucks, 22 vans, 2 helicopters, 9 motorboats, 3 motorboats, 9 fire engines, 4 snowplows, 12 ambulances, 1 lighting tower with generator, 3 generators, 1 autobot 10 thousand liters for drinking water, 1 platoon for construction of campsites, 360 people for search and rescue, 120 beds in the holiday home in Durrës, 50 beds in Jal, 150 beds for family accommodation, heavy vehicles 1 platoon, 6 excavating vehicles, 8 vehicles for transport of aggregates, 1 digger, 1 platoon for strengthening dams, 1 platoon for construction of metal bridges, laboratories for analysis of water, air, etc., 5 groups for ammunition disposal and medical units for surgical emergencies.

(Source: Monitor)