Rehabilitation of the 8-km river embankment ensures protection of over 5000 hectares of agricultural land and flood-prone residential areas. The project also ensures protection of the compressor station of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline

Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected the newly-rebuilt embankment during a visit to Fier on Saturday, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, also Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anila Denaj.

Agriculture Minister said that the investment was implemented in the last four months through the support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, underlining that the project will protect around 5000 hectares of agricultural land in the area.

Denaj underlined that a series of important irrigation and agriculture development projects are planned in the next three years in the southern region of Fier.

On her part, the Deputy Prime Minister Balluku underlined that a number of photovoltaic parks have been built in the area of Seman, combining agriculture and energy.

Praising work on rehabilitation of river embankments, Prime Minister Edi Rama called for more efforts to inform farmers over a 250 million euros initiative launched by the Albanian government to drive investment in agriculture, aiming to boost exports and support small and medium-sized businesses in the sector.

“We need to persistently inform farmers about the new funding line of 250 million euros for small and medium-sized enterprises, backed by the Bank of Albania and second-tier banks.  It is a very favourable instrument with very low interest rates we are preparing to make it available to anyone wishing to invest in agriculture, rural development and agritourism establishments,” PM Rama said.

The government head said that the Rural Development Agency should also coordinate this process and provide information.

Rama said that individual farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture will benefit from easier financing, with attractive interest rates and lower collateral requirements.

/e.xh /a.g/u.sh/