DURING HIS VISIT IN DIVJAKA, PRIME MINISTER EDI RAMA STOPPED BY AT “AGRO – LICO” BUSINESS, A GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION OF VEGETABLE SEEDLINGS THAT IS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING AN INVESTMENT OF OVER 38 MILLION WITH THE INTENT TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYED IN CERTIFIED SEEDLINGS GREENHOUSE.

“Agro – LICO” is one of agribusiness ventures that has benefited from the IPARD program for agriculture co-financed by the Albanian government and the European Union through the IPA pre-accession project. Entrepreneur noted that his activity has increased by 300% thanks to the support given and said that “everybody who has the opportunity to make an investment with the help of the state, do it now because there are no obstacles. Who wants to work, can make it.”

While inviting all producing farmers to orient towards collection areas, Minister of Agriculture Panariti said: “Contracts guarantee fresh products to those who buy them from you. In addition, at collection areas they will be reimbursed 10%-15% of the sales invoice.”

The IPARD grants fund is over 8 million Euros and is allocated for the development of the agro -food sector.

Managers of Agriculture informed Prime Minister that 19 applicants have been contracted from the first call for applications. Of these, 16 for farm investment and 3 for agro – processing.

As one of the beneficiaries from the fund, the entrepreneur said that his intent is not only to provide production of vegetable seedlings in greenhouses, in accordance with European Union standards, but also to distribute them for planting throughout the year, thus minimizing seasonality.

 

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In Divjaka, another entrepreneur of agricultural products greenhouse informed Prime Minister on export growth: “We export to all countries in the region and we are trying to enter the western market. In a few days we will have a meeting on export to England” – said the entrepreneur.

MP Erion Brace suggested the establishment of a working group that will review the administrative facilitating measures, starting by extending the “one stop shop” to this sector.

MP Brace continued by saying that government is “considering to extent the technology package of the garment industry to exporters of agricultural products, because if there is a delay at customs, the product goes bad.”

Minister Panariti informed that the laboratory of physico-chemical analysis of agricultural products in Lushnje is functional and makes all tests for insecticides, heavy metals and hormonal stimulants in just 10 minutes.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama was today in the municipality of Frakull, district of Fier, to attend the process of distribution of agricultural land property titles, according to Law 7051. The event was also attended by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Management, Edmond Panariti.

Prime Minister issued the first 100 ownership certificates, a starting point of a process that is a commitment of the government to owners.

“We are here to give life to a process that arises from a very strong and clear commitment which is: pursuant to law 7501, we will distribute ownership titles to all those who have been working their lands together with their families, but that up to today have not become owners yet, although many years have passed and their children grown old.” – Prime Minister said.

For Prime Minister Rama this process marks also the beginning of the ending of a long chapter of delays, conflicts and overexertion of those living in the countryside. In addition, it transforms agricultural land from a dead capital into a working capital.

“We believe that this is the beginning of the ending of a long chapter of a debilitating dilatory nonsense for all Albanians, Albanian families living in the countryside, living from the land and through the land and trying to create their welfare. On the other hand, this is also the beginning of a new chapter for agriculture, livestock and Albanian countryside, because it is the beginning of a land market formalization” – Prime Minister said.

The applying process for new schemes of funding and support by government started today, on May 2. The funds will be allocated for development projects and plans throughout the countryside, and all farmers are invited to apply, submit their ideas, present their programs and benefit from this support.