The livestock sector is facing difficulties due to high costs and low subsidies. Sector representatives are drawing attention again to the start of protests if institutions do not meet their demands.
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Some representative livestock producers for the sector have already sent a letter to Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Agriculture Anila Denaj, and Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj, requesting immediate intervention for the situation in the dairy sector.
In their letter, the livestock farmers state that the sector is in difficult conditions and the need to resolve issues has become increasingly urgent.
The livestock farmers recall the agreement reached at the meeting of April 7, 2026, with the ministers of Agriculture and Finance, when according to them it was agreed that the sector’s issues would be addressed in September. However, according to the livestock farmers, the market situation no longer allows for further delays in solutions.
“Currently, livestock farming is in difficult survival conditions and the need to resolve our demands becomes more urgent every day. We have waited for September according to the agreement reached at the meeting of April 7, 2026, but this wait cannot be extended further. This is as a result of the well-known challenges, as well as those unforeseen that the market in Albania is facing today,” they state in their letter.
The livestock farmers list 7 concrete demands for the government to meet. One of the main demands of sector representatives relates to the reduction of production costs through the removal of excise duty and taxes on fuel for the livestock sector.
This demand was also at the center of the farmers’ protests held at the beginning of April, who have demanded the return of the subsidized fuel scheme.
The removal of the fuel scheme to came at a time when fuel and agricultural input prices saw significant increases, adding pressure on farmers due to rising production costs.
Another concrete financial demand is that the portion of unspent funds from the 10% VAT compensation scheme be reallocated for subsidizing livestock farmers.
So livestock producers are asking that the funds planned for providing a 10% VAT compensation, but unused, be directed toward supporting the livestock sector.
Applications for the 10% VAT compensation began on July 1. The financial effect in the first year of implementation is estimated at around 1.5 billion lek or around 15 million euros. Livestock farmers have repeatedly stated that the compensation scheme is not expected to be effective, as the compensation amount is determined based on self-invoices issued by collectors for purchases made from farmers and livestock breeders, who in many cases issue them with values that serve them for balancing their books.
Another demand is to revise the existing support schemes and increase subsidies for livestock farmers. According to producers, the current level of support is insufficient to cover the costs and difficulties facing the sector.
Other demands include the creation of a state laboratory for milk testing, the reintroduction of tariffs on the import of powdered milk and palm oil.
Livestock farmers are asking institutions to strengthen controls for imported milk for the content of prohibited substances. Meanwhile, they also consider the labeling of dairy products a problem, in cases where imported milk is used for domestic production.
Earlier, representatives of livestock farmers raised concerns in Monitor about the difficulties that the sector is encountering and warned of renewed protests in early September if their demands are not taken into consideration by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Demands of livestock producers
Creation of a state laboratory for milk testing;
Reduction of fuel prices for livestock farmers by removing excise duty and taxes;
Implementation of tariffs for palm oil products, powdered milk and whey;
Review and increase of subsidies provided to livestock farmers;
Labeling of products to show the country of origin of the milk used in production;
Reallocation of the unused portion the 10% scheme into subsidies for livestock farmers;
Border controls for imported milk for aflatoxin, protein, fat and microbiological load.
“The demands listed above are vital for the current situation of the livestock sector and therefore we request a joint meeting with both ministries as soon as possible, as with each passing day the survival of this sector is becoming more difficult,” the livestock farmers emphasize in their letter./Monitor.al/
