Ilia Daka, based in Slacë, grows vegetables in greenhouses and open fields as well as fruit, with most of his produce destined for export and the remainder sold on the domestic market.

“I am a farmer and agricultural producer. My activity is mainly focused on growing vegetables in greenhouses and open fields, as well as fruit production,” Daka said in comments shared by Prime Minister Edi Rama on social media on Thursday.

Daka said he follows good agricultural practices and uses modern cultivation techniques aimed at improving quality and yields.

He has also received a tractor and agricultural equipment through government support schemes, which he said had helped mechanise his operations and allowed him to carry out farm work more efficiently and on time.

“These tools enable me to carry out agricultural work on time and efficiently, both in greenhouses and on land cultivated in the open,” Daka said.

He said investment in farm infrastructure and mechanisation had directly increased production capacity and created opportunities to expand output and meet demand in both export and domestic markets.

“Support with agricultural machinery, together with the necessary infrastructure, procedures and production capacity in greenhouses and open fields, creates opportunities to expand production and better meet the demands of both export and domestic markets,” he said.

Support provided through programmes administered by Albania’s Agriculture and Rural Development Agency (AZHBR), including the IPARD programme and the National Scheme, is aimed at modernising farms, promoting agricultural mechanisation and increasing production capacity.

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Production has risen steadily over the past six years, reaching 157,000 tonnes in 2020, 163,000 tonnes in 2021, 170,000 tonnes in 2022, 177,000 tonnes in 2023 and 182,000 tonnes in 2024.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development attributed the increase partly to the expansion of greenhouse areas, which allows farmers to reduce their dependence on weather conditions and extend the production season.

It said government support schemes and investment have also contributed to the expansion and modernization of greenhouse farming.

The Ministry described greenhouses as an increasingly important part of Albania’s agricultural sector, supporting more stable production and the wider adoption of modern farming technologies.

The rise in greenhouse production also reflects Albania’s broader shift towards more advanced technologies and more sustainable agricultural production.

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