Southeast farmers against oil price hike: "We will abandon our lands"

2026-03-24 10:48:00, Aktualitet CNA

The increase in oil prices is significantly burdening farmers and tractor drivers in the Sheqeras area in the southeast of the country, at a key moment for agriculture, that of spring work. They say that costs have become unaffordable, while the prices of agricultural products remain low, leading them to bankruptcy.

Farmer Tomorr Prrenjasi says the situation has become economically unjustifiable, as oil costs do not match the income from the sale of products. He says that under these conditions, farmers feel abandoned and without a solution, warning that many of them may be forced to leave the country and give up farming.

"Very good, let it grow more, we are satisfied with that. Let's get married with 5 thousand lek (old), let's die completely, leave Albania. No more, we are dead. Let's leave completely, let's sell what we have, with combines, with tractors, with cars. Wheat is not sold, barley is not, what are we going to do? We will stay now, where will we go? At this price, it is not profitable for us at all. How much will we sell the production for, with 300 lek (old)? Should I buy oil for 2 thousand lek (old) and sell the wheat for 300 lek (old)? Is there a state or is there no state? No one goes to work because people don't have money to buy nitrate, oil, everything starts with oil. Let the rich stay here, we will leave. The garbage is growing, the oil is, what are we going to do? Will we die? Will we leave!"

Meanwhile, farmer Ilirjan Limka says the lack of support from the state has further worsened the situation. He points out that farming is the only source of income for his family and many others in the area, but they currently cannot even afford the minimum expenses to continue working.

"We don't go to work, we can't even make ends meet for ourselves, let alone for our fellow villagers because we work for them. I eat bread with this, I have this income, I don't have a pension or anything. The government should put its hand on its heart, we have young children with problems. We are 100% without support, they have thrown us here where we have fallen. We are hopeless. As we also hear that it will become more expensive, where will we go next? Let them make oil at 10 thousand lek (old) and leave from here. I have parked the vehicles in the yard, I will not take them out. Everything has almost doubled in price, I call on the prime minister to put his hand on his heart and do as all of Europe and the Balkans do. Here are our neighbors (Greece), they gave you lek and they don't feel the price. There 1900 lek (old), here 2200 lek (old) and who knows how much it will go."

Farmer Mirdash Ocka says that high oil costs have made using agricultural machinery unprofitable. He says that even when he works, all his income goes to fuel, leaving no profit, and he adds that he is considering returning to traditional methods of tilling the land.

"Nothing is being done. Yesterday I threw the tractor at it and only did two yards. The fuel costs 2100 lek (old), it's not worth it at all, and even having your own vehicle is not worth it. Yesterday I went to two friends, worked two yards and the lek they gave me, I threw at the tractor and I didn't have a single lek left in my pocket. I bet you don't take out the tractor at all, that's what I'm going to do. I have the horse and I'm going to use it. I'm going back to the old methods. The price is going up here because then it won't go down anymore, it's out of the question."

Along the same lines, farmer Demir Zholanji says the situation is even more difficult due to the spring planting season, when the needs for labor and agricultural inputs are higher. According to him, the increase in the prices of seeds, fertilizers and oil is putting farmers in serious difficulties.

"Now it's a campaign, you'll work hard, you'll work hard. The government needs to think, it caught us at the most difficult moment, which is the spring planting period. All products have increased, seeds, fertilizers, urea have gone over 60 lek (old) and nitrate over 50 lek (old). This situation is hurting us a lot. Are we going back to the old methods? Can we work with a pickaxe? Work with a horse now? We will work with difficulty, but the state needs to think."

Farmers and tractor drivers in the southeast are demanding urgent intervention from the government to reduce costs and support agriculture, warning that if the situation continues like this, many of them will abandon their lands and leave the country. According to official data, in the Korça region, there are over 4,814 agricultural vehicles, including tractors and sowing machines, while most of them work in the Maliqi field. / CNA