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Agricultural subsidy scheme/ Today is the last day to apply for farmers

2025-05-30 13:07:00, Aktualitet CNA

Today marks the last day for applications for agricultural subsidy schemes. Farmers have come to the counters to receive financial support for oil, livestock, beekeeping and other agricultural production sectors.

The application process has been easier and more time-consuming compared to previous years. According to farmers, the longer application period has avoided long lines and has facilitated their work in the field. Today, due to rainy conditions, many of them have taken advantage of the opportunity to complete their applications.

"I'm applying for cows, I have 15 heads. The application was very simple. I've benefited other times, just enough to cover the expenses. The subsidy is very small, 10 thousand new roubles doesn't even cover the cost we spend."

A good number of applicants were previous beneficiaries, who see the subsidy as a symbolic aid that covers only a small part of the high costs of keeping livestock. According to them, a cow has considerable expenses and the aid they receive is not enough to cover the annual needs for food and care.

"We were busy with work, today it was raining, we got free and came to make the applications. I will apply for livestock, mainly cows. We have grouped as a company and there are 10 cows for 5-6 farmers. We received 100 thousand old lek. It is not enough, but that is what the government gives. A cow has a lot of expenses. For 1 year it goes a lot, 1 bundle of alfalfa is 10 thousand old lek, a cow consumes this amount in a day. You do the math yourself. It is worth it or not, but we will deal with it because we live here, we have nowhere to live."

There are also first-time farmers who have organized themselves into small groups to meet the criteria. They emphasize that livestock farming requires dedication and continuous investment, so any support is important, regardless of the amount.

"We have become a group and some have 1 cow, some 2. This year I am applying for the first time. I will apply now. The expenses are difficult, the livestock eat a lot of food, as much as we can, we keep one or two cows."

In some cases, documentation procedures have been an obstacle to timely application. The lack of documents for leased land or co-owners' identity cards has caused some farmers to rush to submit applications at the last minute.

"I haven't applied because there are some documents required that we can't fill out. I'll fill them out, we have time today. They want identity cards of the people who have rented the land. I'll apply for oil and livestock. I have about 40 cows. We received 100 thousand old lek for each cow. It's not enough, but even without anything, it's good. There is a cost."

According to the director of the Directorate of Agriculture, Vullnet Gjolla, this year there has been a steady interest compared to last year. Around 10,300 applications have been registered for the oil scheme alone in the Korça region. Meanwhile, other schemes such as those for small livestock, livestock farming and beekeeping have also had a good turnout.

"Today is the last day of applications. We have had a high interest from farmers on the application days. This year there has been a novelty, where the application deadlines have been longer than in previous years. We have had approximately a month and a half and there has been no influx from farmers. There have been some schemes where farmers have been more interested. In the Korça district, we have about 10,300 applications in the oil scheme, almost the same number of applications as last year. As for the other three schemes that have been of interest to farmers, they have been the small livestock scheme with 680 applications, the livestock scheme with 690 applications and the beekeeping scheme with 720 applications."

Despite dissatisfaction with the value of subsidies, farmers express their determination to continue working in agriculture and livestock, as for them this is not only a way of life, but often the only opportunity to secure income./ CNA