His name is Ermal Gjuzi, he is 29 years old, from Albania, and has been living and working in Scanzano Jonico (Matera) for 10 years now. "I came to Italy as a worker, because I knew there was a demand for labour in the strawberry orchards of Metapontino. Now I am the owner of a farm that employs 50 people, 25 of whom are employed all year round".
Ermal Gjuzi
"During the first five years, I worked hard, while also building trust with my employer, who then supported me in the pursuit of my dream of setting up my own business. I started out growing less than 2 hectares of strawberries, and have now rented 10 hectares, plus another 3 hectares dedicated to vegetables. I grow mainly Sabrosa-Candonga, but one hectare is also cultivated with Fortuna, a variety that allows me to open the strawberry campaign in November.
"Currently, the marketing of my strawberries is being handled by a company in Scanzano Jonico, but the plan is to buy a warehouse and set up a processing and packaging subsidiary, exactly the same way I managed to buy agricultural equipment and machinery over the years.
"I am very happy with my entrepreneurial choice as it represents my social, cultural and economic payback. To all those young people who are going through the same experiences, I want to say: "don't be afraid to take action, make mistakes and invest. You have to believe and commit to it." The commitment is greater in the agricultural field, but nothing is impossible. First focus on production and producing high quality fruit. Sales will follow.
The ambition and dedication of this young man have no limit. "We are talking about new fields and not about replanting, which means that the fields are performing better. The fruit is of excellent quality, with a sugar level of over 13° Brix. This young man, even though he is new to the sector, has acquired exceptional technical and agronomic management skills in a very short amount of time, given the challenges in terms of language, social integration and finances," said Gennaro Motta of Timac Agro Italia, who is the technical advisor of the company.
Ermal Gjuzi and Gennaro Motta
"So far, all 9 hectares dedicated to Sabrosa-Candonga have produced a yield of around 130 g/plant, and this will increase in the coming weeks. The characteristics of Ermal's production are a conical strawberry, bright red and medium to large in size, which means that you can sell them at a better price."
For more information:
Azienda Agricola
Ermal Gjuzi
Via G. Pastore, 14
75020 - Scanzano Jonico
Tel.: (+39) 3400067525
Email: gjuziermal1991@gmail.com