TIRANA, November 16 /ATA/ The government’s strategic priority for agriculture is irrigation and drainage infrastructure because it plays a key role in ensuring the sustainability of production, managing flood risk and improving the quality of agricultural land
“The budget for the management of irrigation and drainage infrastructure for 2026 is estimated at 3.6 billion lekë, reflecting an increase of 26.4% compared to 2025. This increased funding aims to improve existing networks, increase the efficiency of services and guarantee farmers’ access to sustainable irrigation”, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla said today.
Salla also emphasized that domestic investments will increase from 1.9 billion lekë in 2025 to 2.6 billion lekë in 2026, an increase of 36%, focusing on the rehabilitation, expansion and modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure.
“Through these funds, there will be improved irrigation on about 10,000 ha of agricultural land; there will be built 10 km of embankments along the main rivers for protection against floods and erosion, there will be completed the reconstruction of the Orikum pumping station for the drainage of 500 ha of land, and there will be rehabilitated Vlora pumping station to avoid urban flooding,” Salla said.
He also noted that over 60 thousand hectares of agricultural land will be improved and maintained through the movement of over 2.5 million m³ of soil, and there will be put in operation 27 pumping stations throughout the country.
According to him, the wage fund for 2026 is expected to increase by 24%, aiming at building better human capacities and support the work of sector employees.
“The 2026 budget is a concrete step to improve infrastructure and support the work of farmers across the country,” added Minister Salla. /r.e/p.s./
