Agriculture sector grew at twice the pace of previous year, says mininstry

TIRANA, May 14 – The Agriculture Ministry has reported that the annual growth in the agriculture sector in 2006 was four percent, or double the annual average from 2000-2005. Livestock revenues increased by four percent compared to the precious year. Not much difference was noted in revenues from the sale of crops. “Though 2006 marks double increase in total we are still far from the goals in the European Union’s data on agriculture,” said the statement, adding that revenue per capita should be three times higher until 2013. During 2006 there were 393,000 fruit trees planted, 171,000 new olive trees and 399 hectares of new vineyards. There was noted an increase in the number of livestock farms. Agroindustry showed strong improvement and a bright future with an increase of its products from 43 billion leks to 48 billion leks in 2006, as compared to the