Minister Salla Introduces “YLLI,” the First Virtual Assistant for Albanian Farmers Under the “Digital Agriculture for Albania 2030” Program

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched the “Digital Agriculture for Albania 2030” program, as well as “YLLI,” the first virtual assistant built specifically for Albanian farmers and linked into the Farmer’s Portal. YLLI, which is powered by artificial intelligence and available in Albanian, will give farmers with real-time information, guidance, and assistance, thereby promoting agricultural modernization and alignment with European norms.
During the presentation, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla emphasized that digital transformation is essential for addressing the challenges facing agriculture, including climate change, rising production costs, market competition, and the need to comply with European Union standards.
At the heart of this transition is the Farmer’s Portal, which will allow farmers to apply for assistance programs online, get agronomic information on agricultural input use, monitor their plots using meteorological data, and receive market guidance.
One of the portal’s primary innovations is YLLI, a virtual assistant who will provide farmers with rapid and practical assistance while making information and services available at all times. The platform will also provide real-time market and collection-point price updates, as well as communication and coordination capabilities for farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. These elements aim to boost market transparency and improve farmers’ access to information and services.
Minister Salla emphasized that the success of this initiative is dependent on strong inter-institutional cooperation, which includes the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA), the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI), universities, international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank, and the private sector.
The minister also emphasized the necessity of involving young people in agriculture, describing the industry as one with enormous potential for innovation, technology, and the formation of new firms. In this context, he praised agricultural startups created by young entrepreneurs as models that contribute to the modernization and increased competitiveness of the sector.
The “Digital Agriculture for Albania 2030” program aims to build a more productive, competitive, formalized, and transparent agricultural sector, supporting the country’s sustainable development and European integration goals.