In the 7-month period of this year, vegetable exports increased by 5.5%, compared to the same period of the previous year.

The Albania’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Milva Ekonomi said today that, in January-July of 2021, the export of vegetables is estimated at 5,833 million ALL, up from 5,531 million ALL in 2020.

The increase in agricultural exports is fueled by the investments made in the agricultural sector, especially greenhouse cultivation giving significant advantage to Albania.

Thanks to government support policies, exports of agricultural products have quadrupled.

Agricultural exports increased to $ 400 million at the end of 2020, up from about $ 100 million at the end of 2014, while exports are projected to reach over $ 1 billion in the next four years. //a.i/

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Milva Ekonomi stated on Tuesday that, the exports of agricultural products are estimated at 26.450 million ALL. According to Ekonomi in the same period of 2020, exports of agricultural products reached ALL 22,422 million.

The increase in exports of agricultural products was triggered by investments made in the agricultural sector, especially greenhouse cultivation bringing considerable benefits to Albania.

Albania has about 1700 hectares of greenhouses and plastic tunnels for the production of agricultural products.

The agricultural sector is among the sectors with the largest contribution to Gross Domestic Product-GDP of about 20%. In 2013 in Albania have been cultivated about 125 thousand ha of land, while today there are about 250 thousand ha of land. //a.i/

“We thought of making a different investment in agriculture and we managed to bring a real development model that enabled us to grow and produce year around agricultural products,” Misiri said.

Misiri and his family has been working in the production of vegetables since 2015. Thanks to the support of ARDA under IPARD program he has been able to construct a new greenhouse with a surface of 2.5 ha square meters and a modern heating system.

“Equipped with a modern technology, greenhouse 8.6 m in height, this family has realized the agricultural production according to the conveyor scheme, which means year round vegetable production,” Minister Ekonomi said.

“All production in the greenhouse complex is exported to the Italian market,” Minister Ekonomi added.//a.i/

“This is the demand and this is the production. The price of watermelon in the market today reached 25 lek per kilogram. The total amount of watermelon is being exported. Hot days have increased the demand for watermelon compared to the past two weeks,” Braçe said.

“A real, transparent institution, above all, where the farmer is informed about the market rules, the product price, referring to the quantity, production,” he added. //a.i/

“As one of the oldest associations in this sector since its creation in 1993, we talked about the support provided to farmers and the situation of pesticide management in agriculture,” Ekonomi said.

The Minister Ekonomi stressed that the exemption from the VAT scheme of agricultural inputs was a major achievement in formalizing the sector and reducing prices.

“Meanwhile, the joint focus, with the help of associations such as AFADA, will be on the quality of chemical fertilizers, to guarantee quality agricultural products according to the required standards,” Ekonomi said. //a.i/