Malaj in Lushnja: 31 million euros in subsidies and a new VAT scheme for farmers in 2026
The Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, during a meeting with farmers in Lushnja, emphasized the government's increasing support for the agricultural sector, describing it as one of the main pillars of the Albanian economy.
In his speech, Malaj brought to attention some of the most productive areas such as Krutja, Divjaka, Fiershegani, Allkaj, Hysgjokaj, Ballagati, Dushku and Golemi, describing them as success stories that not only supply the domestic market, but also export abroad.
The minister rejected criticism of the lack of support for agriculture, noting that the budget for the sector has increased significantly over the years. “We found the agriculture budget at 34 million euros and today we have 160 million euros,” he said, adding that exports have increased fivefold and greenhouse areas have tripled.
For 2026, Malaj announced that the government has foreseen a broad support package for farmers, including around 31 million euros in subsidies, 20 million euros in grants and a sovereign guarantee of 30 million euros. The latter will enable farmers to benefit from soft loans with low interest rates, where the state guarantees up to 70% of the value.
One of the main innovations is the new VAT scheme, which aims to directly support farmers. According to it, 10% of the invoice value for products sold will be returned to farmers' accounts, starting from the middle of this year.
Malaj also expressed optimism about the opening of the IPARD program this year, from which over 100 million euros are expected to be injected into the agricultural sector.
He highlighted that agriculture employs over 40% of the workforce and contributes more than 15% to Gross Domestic Product, making it a strategic sector for the country's economic development.
In conclusion, the minister emphasized the government's ambitious objective to increase agricultural exports to at least 1 billion euros by 2030, as well as to make the sector competitive in European Union markets.
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