Everyone wants to have a farm. A kind of "incubator" where they can live more peacefully, away from the chaos of the city, and express their passion for flowers, trees, and animals. Some plan to build one when they retire, while others want to start their lives there.
For many years, agriculture has been viewed by many young people as a sector of the past, closely associated with strenuous physical labor, limited job opportunities, and low pay.
However, the outlook suggests that the farmer of the future will spend more time on a laptop than on a tractor. Agriculture is not just about farming. It also offers career opportunities in marketing, communications, business, environmental science, veterinary medicine, food technology, and international trade.
The reality shows that, in Albania and beyond, agriculture is one of the most strategic and in-demand sectors. It remains one of the main pillars of the Albanian economy, contributing around 18% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—a figure significantly higher than the European Union average. For a large share of Albanians, agriculture is the primary economic activity and their main source of income.
Today, however, one of the greatest challenges facing agriculture is the shortage of young professionals. The average age of farmers across Europe continues to rise, and this trend is becoming increasingly evident in Albania as well. The job market is increasingly seeking agronomists, veterinarians, environmental engineers, food technologists, and rural development experts.
Today, the hoe, plow, shovel, and many other traditional farming tools are being replaced by new technologies, offering strong hope that agriculture can advance much further. The strongest reason for young people to study agriculture is the sector's technological transformation. Drones for crop monitoring, AI for data analysis, irrigation sensors, and many other emerging technologies are being adopted, driving the modernization of the sector and making farmers' daily work easier.
In the world we live in, water, the environment, and food are becoming increasingly valuable resources that, starting now—not just in the distant future—require skilled experts. Young Albanians should be at the forefront of these important developments, which are reshaping the demands of the job market.
Everyone has probably come across the question: Which jobs will artificial intelligence replace? In agriculture, however, AI will serve as a tool to modernize the sector, because the land remains the foundation. The need for food produced from the land is constant and enduring.
A few years ago, agritourism in Albania was considered little more than a utopian idea. Today, however, developments in the tourism sector have enabled Albania to take pride in its local products and authentic experiences. This combination of agriculture and tourism not only creates employment for many Albanians but also encourages young people to see agritourism as a serious investment that, most importantly, offers long-term sustainability.
Did you know that in the village of Hoxhaj, near Berat, around 80 young farmers have transformed greenhouse production by using modern biological pest control methods, reducing pesticide use to a minimum—or eliminating it altogether? Their products are exported to European markets, where quality standards are exceptionally high.
In Korçë, a farmer makes decisions by analyzing data from sensors rather than simply looking at the sky. Meanwhile, in Vlorë, a group of farmers has installed solar-powered irrigation systems and modern machinery to process olive pruning waste, reducing costs while increasing productivity.
Imagine one day seeing a product created by you, bearing the label “Made in Albania,” on store shelves around the world. This is a real opportunity that makes agriculture a profession with global impact. A smart idea in agriculture can be worth millions.
Although it may sound cliché, young Albanians today carry not only their own future on their shoulders, but also the future of the agricultural sector and the Albanian economy. Today, agriculture is “IN,” and a Gen Z young person has no reason to underestimate this particular sector, which, besides providing the satisfaction of harvesting what you have planted, will never let you down.
The question that every high school graduate facing the life-changing decision of what to study should ask themselves is not whether agriculture has a future. The question is whether they want to be part of the sector that will feed people, protect the environment, and develop the Albanian economy in the decades to come. Because the agriculture of tomorrow is not built only with land. It is built with knowledge.
On the other hand, modern universities are no longer preparing only traditional agronomists. They are training professionals who combine biology, technology, economics, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship to address the challenges of modern agriculture. The Agricultural University of Tirana is an example of this, as it is becoming a pioneer in these developments.
Agriculture should not be seen only as an inner calling among those who have a family history of business in this field; it can also be created and then passed down to future generations.
Because everyone wants to have a farm.