Agriculture production up 4.5%

TIRANA, June 23. According to sources from the Ministry of Agriculture (MBUMK), agriculture production during the first five months of 2009 has increased by 4.5% compared to the same period last year.
Production has manifested itself through a progressive growth in all agriculture sectors according to INSTAT statistics. Compared to 2005, gross agriculture production increased by 6.5 billion Lek and agro-industrial production had increased by 9 billion Lek by 2008.
In January-April of this year, production increased 23% from plantations, 5.2% from livestock, and 17% due to crops, all compared to 2005.
Experts at MBUMK attribute the progress in the agriculture sector to different projects taken by MBUMK in support of farmers, most critically, a fund of direct subsidies to farmers throughout the country to boost production and the standardization of agriculture products.
Agriculture remains an important sector in the Albanian economy, considering 50% of the population lives in rural areas. The current governmental projects are stimulating farmers’ interest to increase investments. However, the sector lacks financing from the banking system, which considers agriculture too risky for the time being.