Deputy PM Peleshi Niko met with farmers of Korca district. The meeting focused on the initiative of the government to formalize the agricultural sector. The region of Korca is very important for the Albanian economy, as it constitutes the second largest agricultural field in Albania, after Myzeqe. Deputy Prime Minister congratulated the farmers of this region, who have responded positively to the government’s initiative to formalize the agricultural activity.
“I want to congratulate the farmers of the district of Korca who, alongside the farmers of Fier, are champions in Albania regarding the positive response to the rapid formalization of the Albanian agriculture and farms. 2,670 farmers are now equipped with the farmer’s TIN. We had to face a very big demand in recent days, because a lot of people across Albania have responded to our reform against informality and for the formalization of the economy of the farmers, not only in Korca, Fier.”
The Deputy Prime Minister assured that despite speculation, being provided with TIN does not impose any additional cost to the farmer, but the farmer becomes part of the economic formal system, in addition to increasing chances of a free participation in the market.
“Today, a farmer provided with TIN is part of the formal system of the Albanian economy, and agriculture in this case, which means that they able to easily sell their products, but above all to sell them to zero cost. As you know, the Value Added Tax is refunded 100%. So the cost of the farmer provided with TIN is zero, while the benefits are great.”
The Deputy PM noted that it is very sad when people speculate on the selling of products, while facts show that their export has doubled.
“It is really sad to see the former Minister of Finance, who held this office for eight years, be against our initiative to formalize agriculture. It is very sad when people speculate on the selling of products, while figures show that this year the export of many of our products has almost doubled, ranging from apples to plums that were sold out. Exports have doubled, which shows that we are in a good year. We cannot say that we have reached perfection. The system of agricultural economy has just begun to consolidate, but what I want to say is that we are not for electoral or short-term solution for the selling of products.”
Farmers supported our initiative to formalize their activity, although initially, as they said, they had to face great speculations in terms of TIN provision. They considered this a good year both for their products and their selling.
“Farmers have been misled because that were told that those collecting would be taxed 80 ALL per kg by the state. A very bad propaganda has been made against TIN, because farmers have been told that they would be taxed if they were provided with TIN”- a farmer said.
“Both production and the selling have been very good, ranging from onions, potatoes and apples. I have to tell something to the opposition leader who came in Devoll and said that apples were not sold. They have been sold 50 ALL. Apples have been sold better than anything else this year. I am from Zyrina, and it is a place of apples. The selling has been very good this year. We have sold to Kosovo, Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro. We did even sell the fallen apples “- another farmer said.
Another topic of the meeting was the many challenges that farmers face today in the entire chain of value creation, associated with increased capacity of cold storage, the modernization of agricultural machinery, standardization of products and increased competitiveness.
