New farmers’ support schemes are creating new possibilities to boost Albanian products and food safety. Farmers will be supported by 500 ALL on every matriculation of livestock through these schemes and 2000 ALL on cattle compared to 150 ALL of previous years. Animal registration is the first step of tracking cattle products and towards food safety.
Prime Minister Edi Rama accompanied by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Niko Peleshi inspected “Amalthia” farm in Durres which thanks to financial schemes benefit has established a stockyard and is extending its investment in a state of the art production line of milk and cheese. The entrepreneur of this activity, Jona praised the new supporting schemes and emphasises that they pay close attention to animals’ matriculation as a step ahead in meeting European standards. “Matriculation is one of the main things. Similar to us all other farmers should not avoid matriculation and farm registry to accord with agriculture directorate on regular basis,” Jona said.
“The measure we have set this year is to provide direct birth payment on livestock and cattle. We grant 5 thousand ALL to cattle and 20 thousand ALL to livestock. Thus instead they pay for them, we subsidy not only the matriculation value but they are overdone almost the same,” minister Peleshi said.
The Premier believes that this new support scheme will be an added motif to those willing to be involved in animal husbandry and agro-processing. “I believe that the scheme change, from a compulsory and de-motivating scheme of the farmer paying on any born and bred cattle to the scheme where the state pays you, will enable animal and farms matriculation be not only a motivation outcome but also a guarantee to all we are eager to ultimately establish, recording, following –up statistics and utter control through vaccinations etc… Meanwhile it will be an impetus so that others are involved and increasingly engage in farming,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said.
Collection points and safety standards are placed special focus to. 25 million ALL will be granted to any collection points that meet standards, Minister Peleshi stressed, while guaranteed support on utensil transportation equipment certified by the European Union as a guarantee to improve food safety. “We will grant around 25 million ALL on a collection point. Meanwhile we provide support to equip all farmers with collection and transportation milk containers thus European Union certified tanks as microbe polluters gain ground there first place,” the minister said. Likewise, transportation of animal products is among the main requirements to meet food standards which will no longer be permitted in plastic containers that favour microbe contamination. “Transportation, from the farm to the processing factory will not be allowed in plastic containers where microbe contamination under high temperature condition multiples, hence transportation is a must through stainless steel containers as we aim to increase both production as well as improve milk cleanliness and sanitary conditions, as a result consumer’s food safety,” Minister Peleshi said.
