Deputy Prime Minister ⁠Albana Koçiu noted that this model brings a fresh start to local farming by driving shared investments and higher product value.

The Albanian Government funds up to 100% of Agricultural Cooperatives through the 2026 National Support Scheme. This funding helps farmers work together, modernize their farms and meet European Union standards. United farmers boost productivity, cut costs and make Albanian agriculture stronger in the European market.

“Success is a team effort. It happens when we join forces, invest in teamwork, and share a common vision for growing Albanian agriculture,” said Koçiu.

In a video shared on social media, Koçiu stressed that agricultural cooperatives are vital for building a sustainable future for farming in Albania.

“Farming in isolation limits growth, inflates supply costs, and distances you from European standards. Uniting through agricultural cooperatives transforms individual effort into collective leverage—lowering costs by 30% and opening doors to EU investment. Your property is untouched; only your market strength is multiplied.”, she concluded. /e.xh/j.p/p.s./

Salla said that these agricultural structures encompass 84 farmers across various sectors. The minister highlighted that a 53-member cooperative focuses on mixed crops (vegetables, citrus, cereals, and vineyards), while the remaining 31 farmers are split between an olive oil cooperative (15 members) and the livestock sector (16 members).

The minister emphasized that through this model, the farmers will have more opportunities for cooperation, wider access to financial support and full benefit from the measures of the National Scheme 2026.

Salla considered the creation of the cooperative societies as an important step towards a more efficient organization of agricultural producers, increased competitiveness and sustainable development of the sector.

Mayor of Shijak Elton Arbana was also present at the presentation of this initiative. /j.p/p.s./

During a press conference, the minister also presented the initiative to organize farmers in Agricultural Cooperative Societies (ACS), which he described as an important instrument for strengthening the agricultural sector, formalizing it and increasing competitiveness in the market.

“Supporting farmers and agriculture presents a significant opportunity for growth and sustainability,” said Salla.

According to him, there is work underway in 26 municipalities in the country, where the first 300 farmers have been involved towards organizing themselves to produce in a united manner, while the process is also being expanded to other municipalities with agricultural potential.

These models include various crops and areas of the country, such as fruits and vegetables, olives in Berat, Elbasan and Vlora, aromatic and medicinal herbs in Malësi e Madhe and Belsh, onions in Korça and walnuts in Kolonja. Meanwhile, the process of creating Agricultural Cooperative Societies is also underway in Shijak and Shkodra.

Salla emphasized that this model of cooperation between the farmers and municipalities creates opportunities to enter larger markets and increase agricultural exports.

“This new way of cooperation manages to reduce production losses by up to 25%,” said the minister.

He underlined that this is a model built according to European Union standards and is supported by both the National Scheme and the funds addressed by the EU for the development of the sector. The minister announced that Agricultural Cooperative Societies have the opportunity to benefit from full support through the measures foreseen in the financial schemes, in order to increase production and empower Albanian farmers. /e.xh/a.f/p.s./

Minister Blendi Gonxhja said that this draft law guarantees support and justice for all citizens who have contributed to: State institutions and enterprises until 01.10.1993; Former agricultural enterprises until 17.10.1992; Former agricultural cooperatives until 19.07.1991

“The draft law is being passed by the Parliament. Following its approval, it is expected that all those who sign up for new pensions from 2025, which are approximately 40,000 individuals each year, will benefit from the automatic recognition of work qualifying periods since the age of 18, without additional documents, for the time before 1994”, emphasized Gonxhja.

According to him, the approval of this draft law eliminates the prolonged judicial processes, the heavy procedural costs and the lost work years creating a simpler and fairer social insurance system for all beneficiaries. /p.s./

The Head of the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency Frida Krifca said Sunday that “thanks to the Agency’s focus, we have contributed through the EU-funded IPARD support programme to creation of seven collective farms, or cooperatives that are successfully operating and generating income for the farmers’ network who have joined their forces.”

“On the International Day of Cooperatives, we encourage all farmers to join collective farms to further empower their capacities in the market,” ARDA Director said.

The government is promoting creating of private-run collective farms as an alternative that ensures sustainability, production growth and more income for farming households.

The adoption of the law “On the Establishment of Agricultural Cooperative Societies” and a series of fiscal incentives have helped in increasing farmers interest to cooperate and increase agricultural production in order to expand agricultural exports.

On a survey on the feasibility of small farms in our country, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes states that 53% of farmers in areas with high agricultural production agree to unify the land in the form of a cooperative business, cultivate same crops and plants and to sign collective deals with suppliers.”

A total of 37 cooperatives were registered in 2015 whereas their number has increased to about 130 agricultural cooperation enterprises across the country.

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