AZHBR opens applications during the campaign: 44 million euros for cows, sheep and goats for elections

At the height of the campaign and the parliamentary elections on May 11, the government has opened another scheme to garner votes. On April 14, 2025, applications will open for support schemes in agriculture and livestock, where farmers or companies that deal with goats, sheep, cows or that have planted cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, etc., will be able to receive compensation from the state.

This is a half-hearted initiative by the government, which has set dubious criteria for benefiting, while what is striking is that this money will be used during elections. As is the case with pensioners or in other areas, where the government aims to take the votes of farmers or livestock farmers with a grain of salt.

In fact, this scheme provides minimal assistance to farmers, while IPARD money was given to oligarchs and politicians. And, since the IPARD program has been blocked, the government distributes money for some agricultural crops or herds of cows, sheep or goats.

In the photo: AZHBR's announcement on the opening of the national support program for agriculture in 2025

The photo above is the announcement made by the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development, famous for misusing AZHBR funds, for the opening of the 2025 support scheme.

"National Agricultural Support Scheme 2025. The opening of applications will take place on April 14, 2025 and will continue until May 30, 2025," says the announcement of the AZHBR, which has become known for serious abuses in the distribution of money in agriculture and livestock, abuses which led to the closure of the EU IPARD scheme.

It is learned that the time it was opened coincides with the campaign and elections, while the distribution of this scheme by MPs and mayors has immediately begun. More than money for farmers, it seems that the scheme will be another tool for "patronageists" or even firms that are close to the government.

Facsimile: The Council of Ministers' Decision for this scheme was issued on March 6, 2025, while the instruction was approved on March 28.

But why at this time? According to research conducted by VoxNews, the government has taken a decision number 150 dated March 6, 2025 to "determine the basic criteria for the sectors to be supported and the amount of financing from the program fund for agriculture and rural development for the year 2025."

It is learned that the fund for farmers is 44 million euros, which is about 8 million less than a year ago. The decision stipulates that the fund will be used to support farmers through payments to reduce the cost of oil used, for carrying out mechanized work on agricultural crops, certification of agricultural products and organic farms, and support for forms of cooperation in agriculture.

Money will be given for cattle, herds of sheep, goats and cows. It will be given for farm groups, greenhouses. But even here there are many exclusionary measures, because if you have less than 100 sheep or goats, you do not benefit. In fact, if you have more than 300 heads, the benefit is reduced by 50%.

You must have more than 1 hectare of vegetables, grapes or strawberries to benefit. But, if you have more than 5 hectares, the measure is halved! The same goes for aromatic plants, where those who have between 1 and 10 hectares benefit. Less than 1 hectare does not benefit and if you have more than 10 hectares, you benefit half.

The established criteria exclude many small farmers, while clauses have been set that only AZHBR experts can decipher.

But why now?! If the above VKM was issued on March 6, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance issued the instruction on March 28, a few days before the start of the campaign. A scheme that will be used mostly for propaganda, mainly in the Fier and Berat regions. The fact that the VKM was initialed by Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku casts a lot of doubt that everything is for the campaign and elections!

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