As part of an open consultation process with farmers across the country, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in cooperation with the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development, conducted an extensive public hearing tour to define the measures to be supported under the 2026 National Scheme.
The tour included 23 meetings in 12 regions of the country, bringing together farmers, aggregators, agribusiness representatives, and other value chain stakeholders. The focus was on direct dialogue, identifying real challenges in the field, addressing specific concerns, and gathering proposals to improve support measures. The objective is to design a more inclusive national scheme, better aligned with the needs of the sector. All collected suggestions will be thoroughly analyzed by the technical staff and reflected in the final drafting of the scheme, ensuring concrete and measurable support for rural development.
The 2026 National Scheme will be launched with a budget of 5.2 billion ALL, representing a 16% increase compared to the previous year, demonstrating a strong commitment to the progressive growth of sector financing. In addition to direct support, the scheme will be complemented by integrated financial instruments, such as soft loans backed by a sovereign guarantee. Another important facility for farmers is the 10% compensation of accumulated self-issued tax invoices, which will be submitted twice a year, enabling periodic reimbursement.
These policies aim to further formalize the agricultural sector, reduce production costs, and enhance the competitiveness of Albanian products in both domestic and international markets.
