AgroTimeAL, the Guide of Albanian Agrotourism!

BY FABJOLA ARAPI*

Albania - the country with a blessed land, with around 300 sunny days per year and where the majority of the population lives on the income from agriculture. A country with extraordinary natural potential.

We live in the era of globalisation. Most of us would like to leave the bustling life of the city behind, turn the mobile off and spend days without being in contact with the noisy world. To live simply like once upon a time, in peace with the sun, land, water, organic food and virgin land. This might be one of the reasons why agrotourism has gained popularity over the last few years. Visiting agrotouristic farms has been turned into a trend to find relaxation, and to enjoy, educate and consume organic products taken straight from the land on to the table. Driven by the need to “escape” and by the lack of information about such farms, the idea came up to create a website platform - agroturizem.gov.al which would later be transformed into the application AgroTimeAL. This platform was conceived to serve as the first step for promoting the agrotourism network in Albania under the umbrella of the concept of networking among each other.

This guide offers detailed information for 260 farms and local products providing a virtual experience before planning a visit to a farm. AgroTimeAL is an excellent opportunity for the promotion of the farm, organic products, authentic recipes and the entire experience which the villages provide. In this app, you will find the column “The roads of Taste”which offers users the experience of an Olive Tour, a Wine Tour, a Shepherd Tour, a Fisheries & Aquaculture Tour and a Citrus Orchard Tour. Through images and information, you will have the opportunity to enjoy these experiences virtually. AgroTimeAL is your loyal guide which, depending on your location, will list the farms near you, create a list with your favourites and allow you to quickly and simply organise your weekend. Being connected with the roots of your land and being fed by them fosters traditions, tastes and an authentic experience. The Albanian farmers have created a new standard for the development of rural areas by diversifying their farming activities and by opening the doors to visitors and thus removing the borders between the rural and the urban and giving meaning to the expression “Time for Agrotourism”! This project has been supported financially by the German Government and implemented by GIZ, SRD under the care of MARD (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.) Thanks to this support, the country now has an innovative product which can be uploaded on our smartphones, something we have surely been missing for a long time. The AgroTimeAL app, a practical guide which directs you to agrotourism and to your favorite farm! I invite you to download AgroTimeAL!

*Advisor at Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, LEAD Albania