TIRANA, Nov 25 /ATA/ – Albanian cattle farmers are urging urgent fiscal policy changes and support for the dairy sector, warning that long-standing problems risk collapsing domestic production.
Speaking at a parliamentary hearing of the Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance, Gentian Lala of the Cattle Breeders’ Association said their concerns have gone unaddressed for over two years. He added that 50-60% of milk in the country is sold without invoices, which allows processing factories to exploit farmers and drives unfair pricing.
Lala said the current VAT system does not recognize farmers’ purchases, forcing them to buy imported feed instead of using domestic products. He added that if farmers cannot reclaim VAT, so many are forced to buy cheaper imports instead.
Farmers also raised concerns over imports of powdered and fresh milk from regional countries and the EU, which they said depress domestic milk prices. Legal restrictions have also prevented Albania from exporting fresh milk, even when there was demand from Italy.
They noted that hundreds of farmers have yet to receive fuel and livestock subsidies, and called for solutions for farms at risk of losing support due to delays by local municipalities in issuing construction permits.
Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties voiced support. Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe said farmers’ proposals cost nothing to the budget and criticized the Ministry of Agriculture for inaction. Democratic Party lawmaker Enno Bozdo described the situation as a systemic problem requiring a clear commission agenda.
/j.p/u.sh/
