He left journalism and became an ass farmer: I regret leaving Tirana

With a rare farm only the second such in Albania, Elton Kiki says she fulfilled herself.

He gave up the journalist's profession and life in Tirana, returned to his village of Papa, Elbasan, and has been carrying the donkey farm for four years.

It's a phrase I often hear”, Elton says.

But as a journalist, there are many more questions about those who say this:

What are your options, or can you create with your land or livestock? Have you studied the market, the economy, calculated how you could change this situation? It is not enough to draw such conclusions”.

We have to wonder what I can do and is it worth it? You can't expect from God or from Government”, Elton tells Radio Free Europe.

Why did he abandon journalism?

After 13 years in the journalist's profession, he says that he felt disappointed. Not by the profession still passionate, but by the state of journalism in Albania.

The low <x0); the low salaries, the treatment given to journalists, the conditions in which they work, the lack of freedom of speech and the media. So abandoning journalism came as a need”, he says.

Albania has been constantly criticised in reports by international organisations on worsening media freedom.

The last time this month, when the European Council for Security of Journalists' Platform partners, after a fact-gathering mission in this country, have claimed that media freedom there has deteriorated further because of the intervention of owners and Government.

Elton says that for a time, he kept both matters.

When I saw how well the business was going, the choice was so easy. Of course, I chose the farm”, he says, adding that it offers even more income, more leisure time.

Where did he come up with the idea of a donkey farm?

Disillusionment in journalism for years was accompanied by the thought of what else could he do?

It shows that for two years it has read and discussed with economic experts where it can focus on success.

It's not enough to be originally from the village to become a farmer and start your own business. You have to study the market first. I had many ideas on my head when I suddenly read how successful donkey farms were in the world and made my decision”, he recalls.

I started with five asses. It wasn't even easy to find because they're extinct animals. I've had to wander around every corner of the country”, Elton says.

It shows that these animals are easy to keep, since they do not require special veterinarian care and are not affected by dangerous diseases. Also, you do not spend time feeding them because they eat anything in the wild.

Of the five donkeys he started working with today, there are 35.

“Brend two years ago became serious business, which took time to manage. So I finally broke up with journalism, and I couldn't keep both. You have to be a sales agent, find a market for donkey milk, find your clients, maintain your relationship with them. This is what I do every day”, Elton says.

Ass milk is known for its nutrients. Various research shows that it helps increase immune function.

“A litre of donkey milk costs 50 euros. They seek it mainly for respiratory diseases, asthma sufferers, allergies... At the time of the pandemic, COVID-19 has been much sought to heal the effects of the disease”.

“From all circles in Albania come and buy at farms, as well as from Kosovo and Northern Macedonia, as well as numerous immigrants who come to Albania from time to time”, Elton relates.

He says he is satisfied with his choice and is not at all repentant for leaving journalism and Tirana. If you work and focus on a project, you can succeed, Elton says.

A similar donkey farm is also found in Delvina ʹ southern Albania.

Why do donkeys face the risk of existence?

A report published by the BBC in 2017 has said that donkeys in the world face the risk of existence because of the demand for their skin in China.

Donkey meat is also required food, but the great decline in the number of Chinese donkeys and the fact that they are slow to reproduce has forced suppliers to seek elsewhere.

Africa has been badly hit because these animals there are an important part of transportation and agriculture especially in the poorest communities.

Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal have banned donkey exports to China.