Overview

• Heatwaves and a decade-long loss of 400 000 residents have squeezed Albania’s rural workforce and threatened yields of traditional crops.
• Farmers in Divjaka have expanded trials over six years to include dragon fruit, passion fruit, guava, kiwano and frost-tolerant figs.
• Early shipments to Europe feature 30 tonnes of kiwano to Croatia alongside exports of dragon fruit, passion fruit and pepino.
• Tropical varieties generally require significantly less irrigation and labor, lowering production costs amid resource constraints.
• Climate models forecast 3.5 °C to 8.8 °C warming in the Western Balkans by 2100, underscoring the urgency of diversifying a sector that makes up 19 % of Albania’s GDP.