Albania recorded a positive and very promising agricultural trade balance last year, becoming the region’s top exporter and one of the world’s main fresh tomato exporters. This is why investing in greenhouses, especially in the district of Fier, southwest Albania, is always a smart choice and a profitable business for local farmers. The national agricultural financing scheme to support agriculture and rural development is increasingly encouraging new entrepreneurs in greenhouse farming activities. Ferdinand, who has benefited a 50 percent investment support under the national agricultural financing scheme, has built a one-hectare greenhouse for growing tomatoes. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by Parliament Speaker Gramoz Ruçi and the Minister of Agriculture Bledi Çuçi, visited Ferdinand’s greenhouse.
“Government provided a significant help. This is the first time I launch such a business. The greenhouse construction project had a total cost of 220 million lek. The government funded 50% of the total investment cost. This is a major incentive and this business is really lucrative,” Ferdinand said.
According to the head of the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA), Frida Krifca, Fier is the most preferred region to farmers for starting greenhouse farming activities.
“Farmers in Fier district have benefit a total of EUR 3.1 million under the national agricultural financing scheme in 2018. We have granted support to 13 out a total of 19 greenhouses in Fier,” ARDA Director Frida Krifca said.
“Greenhouse farming is the sector we should support mostly in this district, because the fresh produce exports were estimated at around 250 000 tons last year, with tomato accounting for largest share,” Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dhimitër Kote said.
Prime Minister Edi Rama pledged government financial support for farmers interested in investing mainly in the greenhouse farming activities to take export figures to another high level.
“We will continue to strongly support greenhouse construction and farming in order to increase exports. Some 250 000 tons of agricultural exports was an unimaginable volume only few years ago. We will increase exports to 300 000 tons and even more,” the Premier said.
