TIRANA, Nov 8 /ATA/ The 2024 draft budget for agriculture is focused on direct support of farmers for increasing production, exports, food security and strengthening the rural economy.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anila Denaj, during presentation at the Parliamentary Committee on Production Activity, Trade and Environment, of the 2024 draft budget for Agriculture and Rural Development said that “the draft budget for the year 2024 for MARD is estimated at 14.18 billion ALL.”
She emphasized that the draft budget supports important sectors of agriculture, also focusing on the increase in spending for the salary fund by +28.4%, which guarantees the full support of the salary increase policy for this ministry as well.
Denaj said that there is a 4.8% increase in operating expenses. The draft budget addresses support for 8 important projects in the irrigation and drainage infrastructure.
“With the aim of improving irrigation, we aim to finance about 8 thousand ha as part of 8 projects worth 376.8 million lek, with the aim of rehabilitating-building 10 km of embankment for the protection from erosion and flooding of agricultural lands and residential areas, mainly in rivers about 20 facilities worth 763.3 million ALL are planned to be financed. Denaj emphasized that most of them are future projects and with these we deliver on the commitment throughout the current year and before, completing an important part of the infrastructure with objects but also in economic value, Denaj said.
Also, the minister said, for the first time we increase the funding and the number of employees for the daily monitoring of the dam safety under the administration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The minister said that mass vaccination in livestock farming is very important and as such is the priority of the Ministry of Agriculture’s activity as part of increasing food security.
“Through a fund of 32 million lek, we will be able to vaccinate at least 1.7 million ruminants and goats against the brucellosis disease, which is an important fund to guarantee food security for all of us. The certification of agricultural products and organic farms is high on our agenda and as such it has a dedicated program, as well as the construction of markets for agricultural products.”
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