MAJLINDA ÇAKALLI*
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1 Department of Economics and Agrarian Policies, Faculty of Economy and Agribusiness, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania Author email: mcakalli@ubt.edu.al Abstract There are several areas of both environmental and agricultural importance in Albania where the balance of development and conservation is very difficult. No special consideration is given to these areas in policy or strategic documents, like agricultural development strategy. Therefore, common objectives of such strategies like reaching fertilizer target rates, increase of mechanization level have deteriorated the nature of these areas, also with consequences to tourism. We have analyzed the agricultural development of the last twenty years or lowlands around Skadar Lake and assessed the trend in the use of mechanization, fertilizer, pesticides as well as changes in the structure of crops and livestock. The analysis has enabled us to properly evaluate the environmental performance of agriculture in this particular region. Based on this analysis and best experience, especially from the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union as series of actions are recommended for the agricultural and rural development policies, with particular focus on the application of agri-environment indicators and agricultural systems with fewer impacts on agri-environmental resources. Other recommendations are particularly focused on the re-designed of governmental support, especially subsidies, to agriculture to use it as an instrument for environmental objectives. Keywords: agri-environment indicators, agricultural policy, nature conservation |