The announcement came as parliament’s Economy, Employment and Finance Committee reviewed a draft law establishing the legal framework for the census, a key requirement for aligning Albania’s statistical system with European Union standards.

Director General of National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) Lantona Sado told lawmakers the legislation would provide the legal basis for conducting the census in accordance with EU requirements and recommendations under Chapter 18 on statistics.

The agricultural census, the largest statistical operation undertaken by INSTAT since the Population and Housing Census, aims to gather comprehensive data on farming activity across roughly 90% of the country’s agricultural territory.

Field data collection is expected to last six weeks and will involve around 3,400 enumerators and support staff nationwide. INSTAT has allocated 1.077 billion leks for the operation, Sado said.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Fatmir Guri said reliable statistical data was essential for shaping agricultural policy, supporting farmers and meeting obligations linked to Albania’s European Union accession process.

The census is expected to provide detailed information on agricultural production and rural activity, helping authorities design more targeted support schemes and development policies for the sector.

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