TIRANA, Dec 29 /ATA/ – Investments in new agriculture machinery, construction of greenhouses, modernisation of the producing process in a poultry farm are few cases among over 200 beneficiaries under the IPARD II Programme from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for Rural Development, which have already received over 6.2 million euros in support.
The Delegation of the European Union to Albania appealed to farmers who wish to benefit from the latest call under IPARD Programme to apply through their agriculture development projects, designed to promote production, employment and earnings for the farming households.
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for Rural Development (IPARD), through budget of over 71 million euros, aims to help improving competitiveness of the Albanian agriculture and foster employment by creating and maintaining new jobs through development of business activities in rural areas.
Through this programme in Dushnik, Berat, the IPARD Programme has supported construction of a new greenhouse with a surface of over 55,000 square meters and construction of a modern heating system in the existing greenhouse.
Fatos Konaçi said that he returned back home 15 years ago after years of work abroad and he is now involved in greenhouse vegetable growing.
“The support we have been granted for this investment has helped us to significantly increase vegetable production and our income,” Konaçi said.
He noted that the investment has also help to increase production and potential of quality products and exports of greenhouse vegetables to international markets, adding “this was accomplished thanks to the support under the IPARD Programme and the EU funds.”
Meanwhile, in Devoll, Korça, the Programme supported the investment in purchasing new agriculture machinery and technology, as well as development of new plantations with apple seedlings.
Faris Stergu, a farmer in Korça, said that with the subsidy he has received from the European Union and the Albanian government his work has become a lot easier.
A local poultry farm in Boboshtice was supported in the investment for a new refrigeration room.
Jani Kapurani, the farm owner, noted that the investment has brought about a drastic change to the production and processing process and the meat quality.
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