Albania boosts 2026 budget for flood protection and farmer support
Albania has significantly increased its 2026 budget for flood protection, irrigation, and agricultural resilience, following repeated floods in recent years – including several episodes this month that caused local damage and disrupted farmland.
Why is this important: The government plans to allocate 7.7 billion ALL in 2026 for irrigation, drainage, and flood prevention – nearly triple the 2.9 billion ALL budgeted in 2025. The funds will go toward reinforcing embankments, rehabilitating drainage canals, and protecting agricultural land.
Context: In addition to long-term infrastructure, the 2026 draft budget includes 1 billion ALL in the Natural Disaster Fund and 1.5 billion ALL in state reserves for rapid response to floods, crop damage, and emergency recovery.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s total budget will rise to 16.3 billion lekë in 2026, up from 14.7 billion lekë in 2025. Of that, 5.2 billion lekë will be allocated directly to farmer subsidies, an increase of 800 million lekë from the previous year.
According to the government’s budget explanation, the combination of emergency funds, improved infrastructure, and higher agricultural support aims to reduce the economic impact of natural disasters and stabilize food production.
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