The director of the Agency for the Agricultural and Rural Development, Frida Krifca stated that Albanian farmers are interested to benefit as much as they can from schemes of the Program of Rural Development.

“IPARD II has 310 signed contracts, 189 payments are completed, which means that these are investments that have been conducted and are completely efficient. People have been employed and they have brought growth to highland and remote areas. We won’t have any problems with getting the funds. The interest of farmers has been so high in terms of being able to win grants, because the agricultural sector is believed to have a very high potential in terms of being successful and acquiring revenue, thus farmers have pursued and applied to these programs. The grants for farmers are free, they aren’t soft loans, they are public money from Albanian and European taxpayers’ money, because 25% of funds are from the Albanian government and the other part are funds from the EU, which are invested in building the rural development of Albania,” she said.

Mrs. Krifca also emphasized that during the “European Weeks”, accompanied by representatives of the EU, they have traveled in 21 municipalities around the country in order to promote the work and success of farmers, who have benefited from the IPARD programs.

“The success belongs to Albanian farmers without a doubt, because they are the ones who have responded to the call made by the Albanian state and EU’s contribution, which has made it possible for these investments to actually take place. All the farmers benefiting from the IPARD program – Program for the Rural Development of Albania have joined us. This is a program, where through the model of investment, farmers can tell other farmers to invest in agriculture, and how they went through the process as they testify through their stories, the way it is done,” she added.

According to Krifca, the main idea is to have these supportive programs increase employment and the development of rural areas.

“The essence of this program is to have more employment and progress. Until now, we haven’t had any need to return funds, because the farm lands and greenhouses testify that we are working, we are bringing in new marketing of local products, so we can have Albanian brands that offer reliability and standard,” emphasized Krifca.