Land division and agriculture

Agriculture is dominated by a great number of farms, relatively large population, small size of the farms (average 1.1 ha) and fragmentation of the land averagely in 4.4 plots/per farm, as well as large distance from homes, ranging from 1 to 5 km. These represent issues which cause problems and obstacles to the growth of land productivity and improvement of the efficiency of the agriculture sector. The smallest size farms are in the villages of Stajkë and Kosmaç where land allocated per capita is the also the smallest. In the villages of Bushat and Rranxa the inhabitants have occupied considerable areas of land extra legally (not in accordance with the Law No. 7501 concerning land; in Bushat the occupied area measures 140 ha or 28%, in Rranxa 440 or 34%). Division of land in plots for families based on capita has rendered difficult the use of agricultural machines on large scale. On the other side, continuous migration movements both internally and externally have created a situation in which large areas of land are not being used efficiently. These factors have combined to restrain the development of the credit system for farmers, agricultural marketing and agri-processing industries. In addition, the negative impact has been seen in direct foreign investments in the agriculture sector, which are totally absent in this area. Even local farmers have preferred to invest in building houses, rather than in improving production.

The area of Bushat has good quality land and favorable climate conditions which are the pre-requisites for productive and sustainable farming. The local population possesses long time experience both in farming and livestock which they have updated and improved and which forms the foundations of durable success for the future.