UMCOR to help Albania development by selling sunflower oil
UMCOR to help Albania development by selling sunflower oil
May 28, 2004
By Linda Beher*
NEW YORK (UMNS) — Farmers in Albania will soon harvest and market a crop long absent from their region: sunflowers.
ill
sell about 4.2 metric tons of crude sunflower oil and use the proceeds
to implement sunflower production in Albania. The international
nonprofit humanitarian aid organization is part of the United Methodist
Board of Global Ministries.
Using
proceeds from commodity sales for agricultural development is known as
“monetization.” In addition to supporting development activities, such
sales introduce foodstuffs into a market where food deficits may exist.
Albania
imports most of its sunflower products, so introduction of the new
commodity is expected to stimulate the local marketplace. Monetization
also is expected to energize the local economy through generation of new
jobs. The United States Department of Agriculture donated the oil to
the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
In
cooperation with the Albanian agricultural agency and local rural
organizations, the relief agency will select about 50 farmers to receive
business and technical support in growing oil-grade seed. The first
step is identification of the most suitable sunflower seed for the
region.
“The
sunflower oil and seed project in Albania is a great example of
self-development for economic empowerment,” said the Rev. R. Randy Day,
chief executive of the Board of Global Ministries. “The project reminds
me of the parable of the sower in the New Testament, where seeds fall
into fertile earth and bring forth a bumper crop. We can only pray that
we will have the same results with sunflower seeds in Albania.”
The Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR chief executive
Paul Dirdak
Paul
Dirdak, UMCOR’s chief executive, expects the program to “facilitate
positive change in productivity and profitability for farmers and
processors alike.” Agriculture is a chief source of income for Albania,
though the population is shifting to urban centers.
Contributions
for the ongoing work in Albania should be designated to “Albania
Emergency Advance No. 328235” and dropped in church collection plates or
mailed to UMCOR at 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115.
Credit-card donations can be made by calling (800) 554-8583.
*Beher is communications director of UMCOR.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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