By the end of April 2018, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) donated more than 16,000 seedlings and approximately 57,000 kilograms of fertilizer to farmers impacted by the pipeline construction. The initiative is part of TAP's Livelihood Assistance and Transitional Support (LATS) programme.
The distribution of seedlings - including olive, apple, vine, plum, cherry, etc. - and fertilizer will reach 70,000kg of seedlings and 222 tonnes of fertilizers.
In line with international best practice and in addition to the compensation at full value for losses caused by the project, TAP continues to implement initiatives under its LATS programme in Albania. TAP aims to rehabilitate the livelihood of all project impacted persons, and, where possible, improve it. The Livelihood Assistance and Transitional Support programme is being implemented by the Land Management department.
Vangjel Bixheku, a farmer in the Roskovec region said: "The land has been reinstated and you cannot even tell that TAP crossed underneath here. In addition, TAP has given us new olive seedlings and fertilizer and the terraces have been handed over in their original conditions."
Meanwhile, Arjola Tola, the Head of Land Management for TAP Albania, noted that through its Livelihood Assistance and Transitional Support, TAP directly assists in the livelihood rehabilitation of farmers impacted by the pipeline construction.
"To date, we have checked 65% of the parcels crossed by the pipeline to confirm that land reinstatement has been carried out in line with the highest standards. Also, part of the seedlings and fertilizer have already been handed out to farmers. The donation of seedlings and the fertilizer will resume in October this year, in line with agricultural best practice and crop planting calendars," she underlined.