TIRANA, December 15 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said the coming years should focus on creating joint enterprises between local authorities and farmers. He stressed that these enterprises should prioritize processing and higher income generation in agriculture.

Speaking at a meeting with farmers and entrepreneurs in Elbasan, Rama said agriculture has moved beyond past models. He noted that collection points are no longer few and that the sector no longer relies on electoral handouts.

Rama said farmers today operate in a different reality. However, he added that international markets have advanced faster. For this reason, he called for greater ambition and stronger cooperation.

He emphasized the need to build alliances. Each actor, he said, must take responsibility. He also underlined the importance of financing for projects, investments, and farm transformation. Rama pointed to funding from the state budget, European funds, the Bank of Albania, the New Development Bank, and Agro Credit.

However, he said access to these funds requires adequate capacity to absorb them.

Rama reiterated his call for joint enterprises between municipalities and farmers. He said initial capital would be modest and shared, while financial instruments would cover the rest. This, he added, would allow farmers to focus on growth without fear of debt.

He concluded by stressing that Albania cannot compete in quantity. Instead, he said the country must compete in quality and target higher-value markets abroad.

/a.p./