Farmers and Rural Economies to Get Grants for Agricultural Development

TIRANA, February 8

The Albanian Council of Ministers adopted during its last meeting on Wednesday the criteria for the key sectors that will receive financial support from the fund on Agriculture and Rural development for 2018. The purpose of this grant scheme for household budgets is to support agriculture, animal husbandry, fish farming, agro producing, and rural development. Further on, financial support will help to increase competitiveness, introduce advanced technology, ensure the certification, collection, conservation, and processing of products. This initiative aims to address beekeeping, aquaculture management, land cultivation, diversification of economic activity in rural areas.
The verdict includes all the details and criteria for receiving support for each of the agriculture-related activities.
The grant for fruit tree cultivation varies from Lek 60,000 per hectare for olive tree replacement in old olive groves to Lek 350,000.

• Cultivation of apple varieties demanded by the market will be granted Lek 350,000 per hectare.
• Cherry cultivation – Lek 250, 000 per hectare
• Walnut cultivation – Lek 300,000 per hectare
• Nuts and pomegranate cultivation – Lek 250, 000 per hectare
• Chestnuts cultivation – Lek 150,000 per hectare
• Cultivation of autochthone olive varietals – Lek 250,000 per hectare
• Citrus tree cultivation – Lek 200,000 per hectare
• Cultivation of table grape – Lek 300,000 per hectare
• Cultivation of autochthone grape varieties for processing – Lek 350,000 per hectare
• Strawberry cultivation in greenhouses or low tunnels – Lek 200,000 per hectare
• Cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants like thymus, oregano, tea, romaine, ginger, and saffron – Lek 200,000 per hectare

Moreover, the verdict says that individual farmers, groups of farmers, and agricultural associations will receive:
100 percent of the grant for a land surface up to five hectares.
For land surface, 5-10 hectares farmer will receive 25 percent more of the grant value per hectare
For 10-20 hectares the grant value will increase by 50 percent per hectare.

The initiative aims at supporting young farmers aged 22-35-year-old, who will receive 25 percent more. Meanwhile, a special attention will be paid to the diversification of economic activity in rural areas for individuals that will invest in agrotourism. Find more detailed information about animal husbandry grants read  the verdict here (third in the list).
News Source: PM’s Office