As an EU candidate country, Albania will benefit from IPARD funding scheme for the agriculture sector on behalf of IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) for countries that have won the candidate status and aim to become EU members. The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that Albania will receive a grant of EUR 71 ml for the period of 2016-2020 for the development of the agriculture sector.
During 2016, the Ministry will provide a fund of EUR 13 ml while in the three upcoming years after 2016, the funds will be respectively EUR 16 for each year, until 2020. The funds were approved after the signing of an agreement between the Minister of Agriculture Edmond Panariti and the Executive Director of DG-Agri program Jersy Plewa this month in Brussels.
Within the first semiannual of 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture will publish the official call for Albanian farmers to apply for EU grants. These grants will finance new investments in increasing the planted surfaces, in establishing modern greenhouses and investments in the processing industry. A huge support will be given the trade of agricultural products, the development of fishing industry and technical assistance to farmers.
After the signing of the agreement, the Ministry announced it is working intensively for the compilation of new funding schemes and new supportive incentives for farmers, in order to open the first round of applications within June 2016. These funds will be distributed by the Agency of Payments which will also be the responsible institution for implementing this project in the four upcoming years.
IPA project continues to support Albania since 2007, on behalf of European Union policies and projects dedicated to countries which aspire to become EU members.
News source/photo credits: ATA
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