Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha unveiled his party’s agriculture program today, criticizing what he described as a significant decline in the sector over the last 12 years.

During his speech, Berisha emphasized that following the May 11 elections, Albania will immediately withdraw from the Open Balkan initiative, which he blamed for the bankruptcy of thousands of Albanian farmers. He also outlined several support measures aimed at revitalizing the agriculture sector.

“’Made in Albania,’ a core pillar of the vision for a Grand Albania, demands a developed agricultural sector and successful Albanian farmers,” Berisha stated. “Over the past 12 years, agriculture has experienced a dramatic decline. Since joining the Open Balkan, thousands of farms have gone bankrupt. Agricultural and livestock production has fallen sharply. The number of livestock has decreased by 62% compared to 2013. Today, 80% of agricultural and livestock products in Albanian markets are imports.”

He further noted that while agriculture employs around half a million Albanians and contributes 19% to the country’s GDP, it receives only 0.19% of the state budget—significantly less than neighboring countries. According to Berisha, the majority of the allocated budget does not go directly to farmers, but instead is spent on administrative costs.

“Our program for a Grand Albania in agriculture is built on the ‘Made in Albania’ vision, a major increase in agricultural and livestock production, robust support for farmers, and their success,” he concluded.