Corn planting cannot wait... — (Based on a conversation with specialist AHMET OSJA). — For years, data have been collected both from established experiments and from large-scale production, showing that in the conditions of our country, in the coastal lowlands from Shkodra to Saranda, including the river valleys such as the Vjosa valley up to Këlcyrë, the Shkumbin valley up to Librazhd, and the Mat valley up to Klos, the necessary temperature thresholds for normal corn germination are reached as early as the first days of the second ten-day period of March. As for the foothill and mountainous areas, these thresholds are reached later; nevertheless, conditions allow corn planting in our country to be completed by 15 April in the lowland zone, by 20 April in the foothill zone, and by 25 April in the mountainous zone. Only in this way can germination be ensured within April. This allows the most important stage in the development of the corn plant to coincide well with the ecological conditions. Data from recent years show that plantings from 15–31 March have yielded an average of 54 kv per ha, those from 1–15 April around 56 kv per ha, those from 16–30 April 42 kv per ha, and those in the first ten-day period of May no more than 37 kv per ha. Agricultural enterprises such as the cooperatives of Dajç, Bushat and Barbullush, and the Bushat agricultural enterprise in the district of Shkodër, as well as the Balldren agricultural enterprise in the district of Lezhë, which managed to complete planting within April last year, obtained 80–90 kv per ha across the entire area. This year these enterprises [sentence incomplete]. Corn. The aim now is to ensure that the material resources are in place and put to use for planting, so that planting schedules are not disrupted. With this in mind, the district of Shkodër has been working and has so far planted more than 3,000 ha with corn, as have the districts of Vlorë and Krujë, which have made very good progress with planting, but are not working— (Continued on page 2) ... planting of spring crops with the planting of maize, Ar- [?] on page 2)

The decision: concrete measures Those who learned lessons from last year’s drought during this period are also relatively better placed than others in finding water reserves. In the district of Tirana, for example, reservoirs are now 66 percent full, or 5 million m3 more water than last year. This is no small amount in the current situation for irrigating crops. Every cubic metre of water lost today means less wheat, vegetables or fodder tomorrow. With this in mind, the irrigation of agricultural crops in the farms of this district is being monitored these days. Concern is one side of the matter. Concrete measures to cope with the situation are the other. That is why comrades from the Party Committee, as well as those from the Executive Committee of Region No. 4, have gone down to the grassroots to help and oversee the organization of work, especially irrigation. And everywhere the calculations are being made carefully: which fields should be irrigated first, and which water should be used—water from reservoirs, from electric pumps, or from free-flowing sources? Agim Shtèpani, director of the water enterprise, tells us that this is clear to everyone, and that our aim here is to use free-flowing water sources first. All the main canals that draw water from these sources, such as those of Arbana, Lana, Brar, etc., have been brought into operation at full capacity. For example, yesterday, with their flow of 2,100 litres per second, about 200 hectares were irrigated. The head of the agriculture section, Vladimir Hysi, tells us the same thing: we are using free-flowing sources at full capacity. — Are you also using water from the reservoirs? — We have not started using those that are filled to 40 percent of their water-storage capacity and have no supply sources. They will be opened only if crop germination is at risk, in very exceptional cases. — You have about 94 pumping stations, and, as we have learned, more than 80 of them are ready. How much land has been irrigated with them? — With electric pumps, the figures— (Continued on page 2) In Mat Irrigation of the Valley begins Concern about irrigating the wheat is present in every farm. It is a concern being addressed not with numerous meetings and gatherings, but with practical measures. The water enterprise itself is setting the best example. The electric pumps are as ready as they are at the height of summer. In fact, 16 of them, especially in the Mat Valley, where solar radiation is higher, have begun operating. Good work was also done on the Klos canal. The collapse that occurred a week ago was repaired within a day. The enterprise has now deployed 70 workers to thoroughly clean the irrigation network. However, as the enterprise director says, this workforce is not enough, while the agricultural farms of Shoqaz and Kurdari are not responding to the request to transfer some workers to this front. The fact that the managers of these farms are occupied with duties outside the cooperative does not mean that they should not respond as they have been asked to do before. In Shoshaj of Lata, in Klos, 20 people from this enterprise have also recently joined the work. (Continued on page 2)

We visited Armen. The chief agronomist, Flamur Xhiraj, justified the delay in planting corn and other crops by saying that the equipment was not ready. In fact, as he said, one tractor was left in the field just one week after its major repair. And this farm, with more than 120 ha assigned for corn, has only just begun planting this crop. But the slow pace of spring planting so far has more to do with the shortcomings and inadequate preparation of the farms themselves. What is holding things back most is the attitude: “there’s time, let’s wait for more suitable conditions,” and so on. Only 18 percent of [?] In Vlorë, one hundred [percent?] of the area assigned for corn has been planted across the entire district, when the task is to plant 35 percent of it in the six months [sic] of March. In most farms planting has only just begun, while in some, such as Tre Vëllezërit and Mekat, among those [text unclear] out of 774 ha, about 70 have been planted. Little has been planted, one might say, in almost all the farms where this crop is concentrated. Beans, meanwhile, have been planted in only two farms, in Poros, while those of the Vlorë River etc. have not yet begun. (Continued on page 2) [Continuation:] At Poros, where there are about 300 ha, planting has not started at all, although the deadline for completion has been set for 10 April. There are another 576 ha that the brigades must plant for their own needs, but none of them has started work yet. The current weather conditions demand intensive work to surpass the daily targets and speed up the deadlines—not waiting around. “When you have time, don’t wait for time,” as the people say. There is a certain complacency in the agriculture section about the situation, when the circumstances demand the opposite: an extraordinary mobilization for this major campaign, with tasks of great importance. VANGJEL STEFA

In Vlorë

Irrigation of the Valley begins Concern about irrigating the wheat is present in every farm.

At the “Jordan Misja” Palace of Culture in the city of Pukë, there is activity every day. The amateur workers put on varied and beautiful performances, which are followed with interest by residents, especially the young people. The beautiful, picturesque nature of Pukë is complemented by the lovely sounds of songs and melodies and the rhythm of dances, creating an optimistic atmosphere. The dance group of the “Puka” artistic ensemble stands out. (Photos: R. Zeneli - Merited Artist) At the “Jordan Misja” Palace of Culture in the city of Pukë, there is activity every day. The amateur workers put on varied and beautiful performances, which are followed with interest by residents, especially the young people. The beautiful, picturesque nature of Pukë is complemented by the lovely sounds of songs and melodies and the rhythm of dances, creating an optimistic atmosphere. The dance group of the “Puka” artistic ensemble stands out. (Photos: R. Zeneli - Merited Artist)

. Shepherds like warm weather, but when the necessary rainfall is absent, it causes them concern. As it has this year. Tepelena’s livestock farmers are responding to this weather caprice with daily perseverance. We spoke with Kosta Veneta, the livestock specialist at the Dukaj agricultural enterprise. “The drought has put us in a difficult position, but it has also made us more attentive,” he tells us. How are we coping with it? By moving herds to higher elevations, by rational grazing, head by head. The best in the district. This is how work is proceeding these days at all the other enterprises. The achievement of the milk-production plan for the period January–23 March is the fruit of this work. At six enterprises, such as Turan, Damës, Salaria, Golemaj, Maricaj and Matalloz, production for April has already begun. At all 24 enterprises in the district, the daily schedule is exceeded every day, with more than 60 quintals of milk above the plan. So far, milk production from the herds and smaller flocks, in which the daily schedule is exceeded by 40 quintals. From the smaller flocks, the three-month plan has so far been exceeded by 140 quintals. This production is ensuring a satisfactory supply of livestock products in the market; fresh milk alone is expected to be consumed at a level more than 100 quintals higher this quarter than during the same period last year. SEJEMN GJOKOLI ... they are responding to the weather with daily perseverance. We spoke with the livestock specialist at Kosta Duka’s farm [?]. it has also made us more vigilant, he tells us. How are we coping? By moving the flocks to higher elevations, through rational grazing, and by assigning responsibilities. For the lambs, we are using a little of the alfalfa fields, just enough to ensure that feeding with fresh fodder continues. They are doing well, at over 10 kg. And one more thing: the early spring also brought the leaves out early, so we began milking the goats about 20 days sooner. But above all, the shepherds’ work remains crucial, and it is a source of constant concern. Kosta tells us about Skënder Kordha, who tends the flock of sheep, gaining over 50 grams a day and having reached 21 kg of milk so far per [?]

We also asked the Ministry of Agriculture about this, and the hydro-engineer Hektor Zverku informed us: So far, nationwide, 56 percent of the planned volume has been collected, or 258 million cubic metres of water less. The main cause is the lack of rainfall. The situation is most concerning in the district of Korçë, where 20 percent of the volume has been collected; in the district of Durrës, 31 percent; in Tepelena, 47 percent, etc. The reservoirs are in better condition in the districts of Gjirokastër, Kukës, Pukë, Mirditë, etc., where they have been filled to 80 percent of their capacity. In these districts, rainfall has also been greater. The current situation in agriculture makes it necessary not only to irrigate the crops already planted, but also the plots being planted and those yet to be planted. It is important to stress that all free-flowing water sources should be used sparingly. We should use as little water as possible from the reservoirs, as well as water drawn by pumping stations. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

This drought, which continues to persist, is considered unfavorable in many respects, but it is beneficial for speeding up the pace of planting. Naturally, this must be done without compromising quality and without reducing the pace of irrigation for wheat and other crops; attention is focused on early planting. Let us look at three facts that illustrate the situation. First: 7,000 hectares have been ploughed, or 65 percent of the task. Leading the way are the tractor drivers of the Mamurras State Agricultural Enterprise, who have ploughed 69 percent of the area, together with those of the Borizana and Bilaj cooperatives and the KTL of Laç. But machinery is not ready everywhere. The second fact: spring planting is making better progress. The campaign is now gathering intensity with the planting of maize, Ar- [?] are known. The weather calls for a rapid pace. The goal of all the workers in this sector is to finish planting by 20 April. The optimal conditions even… (Continued on page 2)

On the occasion of Greece’s national holiday, Spyridon Dokianos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Greek Republic to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, hosted a reception last night at the «Dajti» Hotel. Those attending the reception included [?] Minister of Foreign Affairs Reis Malile; the minister attached to the Presidium of the Council of Ministers and chairman of the Committee for Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, Farudin Hoxha; the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Tirana District People’s Council, Llambl Gegprifti; the director of the Institute for the Study of International Relations, Sofokli Lazri; members of the People’s Assembly; workers in science, culture, the arts and the press; and other guests. Also in attendance were heads and officials of the diplomatic missions accredited to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania. (ATSH)

The youth organizations of secondary schools in the district of Sarandë, many of whose students have been declared winners of local and national Olympiads several times, work constantly through their many educational and thematic activities to further stimulate and encourage young talents. One especially good example is the youth organization at the «Hasan Tahsini» general secondary school in Sarandë, which closely follows efforts to discover new talent in several fields, such as literature, applied sciences, sports, etc. Here, extracurricular clubs have been established for most subjects and meet regularly; those for mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. stand out. Organizing Olympiads between classes in these and other subjects, the school’s students’ good results at higher-education institutions, the growing number of students passionate about particular subjects, etc., are also the result of the work of this school’s youth organization to discover and encourage new talents. The students themselves are making fruitful efforts to work toward clear objectives and pursue more in-depth study in the fields and disciplines for which they have the greatest aptitude. By also drawing on the opinions of its members and strengthening cooperation with teachers, the youth organization has used a variety of approaches, such as competitions, thematic evenings, the study and discussion of moral and material issues, and meetings to share and generalize the experience of the best students, etc. Activities held during the Month of Science for Youth also gave this work a boost. (According to ATSH)

ONE OF THE DAY’S INTERNATIONAL EVENTS Immediately after Namibia’s independence was proclaimed, the heads of Soviet and American diplomacy hurried to Pretoria. These were the first visits by the foreign ministers of Moscow and Washington to South Africa in a relatively long period. The main purpose of the Soviet foreign minister Shevarnaxe’s visit, Radio Moscow notes, was to establish diplomatic relations between the USSR and South Africa. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Bejker praised the «democratic processes» that have begun in Pretoria, etc.—the same line Moscow also used to justify establishing its own diplomatic relations. To speak of «democratic processes» in South Africa when racist repression and violence have not ended means supporting that violence. One should not seize on a few facts that serve democratic processes—whose credit is in no way due to Pretoria—in order to rehabilitate a discredited, anti-popular regime. Mandela’s release, for example, was forced on Pretoria. It came after 27 years in prison and at a time when South Africa was under the close scrutiny of international public opinion, which condemned it for using racist violence against the Azanian population, of which Mandela was also a victim. The same applies to Namibia’s liberation. It did not happen because of the goodwill of the South African occupiers. Namibia’s liberation came as a result of the Namibian people’s struggle and the international commitment to condemn the country for the 74-year period of South African colonialism. As can be seen, such facts, used as arguments for processes of democratization in South Africa, do not yet demonstrate any such processes. The superpowers are rehabilitating Pretoria first and foremost on the basis of their own political interests, disregarding those of the Azanian people and other neighboring peoples. And this is happening at a time when the masses in that country are demonstrating and fighting against racism and apartheid, when European and world public opinion is calling for political and economic sanctions against Pretoria not to be lifted, and when the UN Secretary-General, De Kuelar, is calling for the state of emergency to end and for all Azanian political prisoners in South Africa to be released. SOKOL GJOKA