Albanian farmers cannot receive compensation in cases of damage caused by natural disasters as a result of the law approved in 2019 that entitles farmers to receive 8% compensation from local government funds, but it is not implemented because the by-laws have not been approved.
The by-laws that are in force are for the 2012 law, which is reportedly repealed by the government.
“Fiks Fare” was in the village of Hysgjokaj in Lushnje, where a few days ago a fierce hail damaged heavily the produce of two farmers as well as tearing the plastic covers of their greenhouses, ruining almost all the plants.
Fiksi addressed Eduart Sharkaj, the former head of the Farmers’ Unions in Albania, who said that according to the recommendations of the European Union, the law on civil emergencies provides that for problems caused by natural disasters, Albanian citizens be compensated by the local government up to 8
% of the budget.
In the event that the damage exceeds of 8%, they are referred to the state budget or the General Directorate of Civil Emergencies.
“It hasn’t happened here yet, because even though the law was approved in 2019, no government decision has yet been issued to implement the law.”
“Therefore, in such cases, a state of emergency must be declared in order to assess and compensate for the damages”, says Sharkaj.
“This is one of the factors that is harming agriculture and farmers because the farmer’s economy is very vulnerable.
Therefore, the countries of the region do not allow farmers to bear the consequences of the damage, but compensate them”, he adds.
He also brings the example when the Ministry of Agriculture said that it does not recognize this law and has sent a letter to the farmers of Kafarjat saying that the local government must compensate them, leaving the ball to the Fier Municipality.
On the other hand the Fier Municipality sent a letter for interpretation to the Directorate of Civil Emergencies, returning the matter to the Constitutional Court.
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