Area under organic farming

The strategy for rural development, agriculture and fisheries 2021–2027 aims to complete the legal framework for organic production and provides support to farmers through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development (IPARD) programme (national and EU funding). It also integrates the measures defined in pillar V of the Green Agenda of the Western Balkan Countries (November 2020) and the EU Farm to Fork Strategy. The total area under organic farming in 2023 was 797 ha, of which 682 ha was fully organic and 115 ha was under conversion.

The area under organic agriculture has increased in the last few years, from 570 ha (2022) to 682 ha (2023). This is due to the continuation of national schemes’ support for organic farms, but also the beginning of the implementation of Measure 4 ‘Agri-environment – climate and organic farming’ of the IPARD III programme. Despite Albania’s aim and expectations regarding the increase in the area under organic agriculture, the share of the total agricultural area used for organic agriculture between 2012 and 2022 was low. It is necessary to undertake measures to achieve the objective of EU policies that 25% of agricultural area be used for organic agriculture by 2030.