Medicinal Aromatic Plant Cultivation as a Sustainable Alternative to Cannabis in Përmet – MAPCULT

Overall Objective

The overall objective of this project is to improve access to socio-economic development, employment opportunities and facilities in the municipality of Përmet, which is one of the communities in Albania identified as vulnerable to cannabis cultivation and trafficking

Expected Results

5 hectares of public  land cultivated with rosa-canina and other MAPs; 

3 trainings and 7 municipal officials capacitated on increase public awareness on issues related to cannabis cultivation and to deliver inclusive services to the citizens, with a special focus to vulnerable groups; 

1 study tour in neighbouring countries to increase the capacities of farmer families and municipal members, 25 persons capacitated; 

3 trainings for farmer families and families under economic aid and minimum 20 families trained on the best techniques on cultivating MAP; 

a two-days training for young men and women and unemployed women to increase capacities on production and promotion of artisanal cosmetic products, minimum 30 persons capacitated;

Activities

WP1: Management and coordination: monitoring & evaluation of the project, steering committee (meeting periodically, physically and/or on-line), coordination events (kick-off and final conference) 

WP2: Infrastructure and works: preparation of the land for cultivating the MAP; purchasing seedlings of MAP, restore the storage facility that fill serve for the storage of the MAP; purchase a vehicle for the transportation of the MAP; purchasing a drying machinery for the MAP drying process. These works will allow that the product is of a good quality and ready for sell.

WP3: Capacity building and networking: the training will target Farmer families, with a special focus to families with young men and women who are affected by the cannabis cultivation, Families living under economic aid, young men and women with primary and/or secondary education, unemployed women aiming to strength their capacities and enable them to find work in the agricultural field, diversify their set of skills and also to raise awareness about the long term issues that they face in cultivating cannabis. Training will address the following topics: consequences of cannabis cultivation, socio-economic alternatives to cannabis, viable economic alternatives to illicit activities, how to engage the communities and promote dialogue, understanding and joint work in common initiatives through a participatory approach, how to product artisanal cosmetic products and promote them in local markets. Networking will be achieved through a study tour in the neighbour countries with a long-standing experience in cultivating medicinal aromatic plants. 

WP4: Communication and Media: working package dedicated to the visibility and dissemination of the project activities, which will include the following activities: developing and implementation of project communication strategy, developed by the lead applicant in coordination with the co-applicant. It will include the design of the visual identity and promotional materials; dissemination activities and social media promotion; development and dissemination of a final promotional video for the project activities; disseminate information through different set of tools.