In Dimal, Berisha promises major boost to farm subsidies in opposition’s agriculture plan

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha met with farmers in Dimal today, pledging a dramatic increase in agricultural subsidies as part of the opposition’s electoral platform. Speaking to farmers from the Berat region, Berisha called the current government’s treatment of the sector “an unforgivable discrimination” and vowed to raise subsidies from €32 million to €230 million annually if elected.

Why is this important: Agriculture employs nearly half a million Albanians and contributes significantly to GDP, yet funding remains low. Berisha’s promise signals that farming will be central to the opposition’s campaign.

Context: Berisha criticized the government’s neglect of Albanian farmers, arguing that neighboring countries provide five to eight times more in agricultural support. He framed the opposition’s plan as both an economic and moral correction.

“This will be our solemn pledge to you,” Berisha told the crowd. “In North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia, farmers receive far more support. Meanwhile, our 380,000 farmers—who contribute 19% of GDP—are left with crumbs.”

Key points: Berisha presented the Democratic Party’s agriculture program as part of a wider effort to “return money to the people.” Key proposals include:

• Increasing subsidies to €230 million annually
• Funding for every seedling, head of livestock, and agricultural production unit
• Aligning Albania’s subsidy model with regional and European practices

The plan, he claimed, would not only lift the rural economy but also restore dignity to Albanian farming communities long ignored by policymakers.

Berisha closed the event by urging farmers to back the opposition in the upcoming elections, calling the vote “a turning point for agriculture.” He framed the election as a referendum on whether rural Albania would continue to be “abandoned or empowered.”

“This is the moment to stand together,” he said. “Without your voice, there will be no change.”