Imri Demelezi

Imri Demelezi (born 1985) is a Kosovar Albanian agroeconomist and current deputy minister of agriculture, forestry and rural development of the Republic of Kosovo.

He completed his undergraduate studies in agroeconomics at the University of Prishtina and obtained a master's degree in sustainable agricultural and rural development from the University of Bologna in Italy. He also completed a specialization in agriculture at CIHEAM, IAMB, in Bari, Italy.

He formerly worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Prishtina, and lectured at UBT College prior to his current position.

Demelezi is doing his PhD at The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna and is part of Working Group Trans disciplinary Systems Research.

A recent informative meeting at the University of Pristina aimed to strengthen academic and scientific ties between Kosovo and Norway in the field of bioeconomy. Notable attendees included Rector Qerim Qerimi and Mr. Imri Demelezi, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development. Rector Qerimi emphasized the importance of this collaboration, highlighting its potential to shape the bioeconomy's future in the region and produce tangible results. Mr. Imri Demelezi's presence underscores the significance of the meeting in fostering academic and scientific cooperation and its potential to drive positive changes in the bioeconomy sector in the region.

Demelezi was a candidate in the 2019 parliamentary election with Vetëvendosje. He served as deputy minister of agriculture in the first Kurti government during its brief tenure in 2020. He returned to government with the second Kurti cabinet in March 2021.

On his position as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development his intentions are to improve farmer positions and regulation and decrease the bureaucracy for their needs. Through agricultural policies and strategic documents, aims to develop organic agriculture and increase the capacity and quality of this production. His ideas are expressed in this interview. For the government's support in agriculture in this time of crisis, Demelezi explained the support of more than 5 million euros have been allocated for subsidizing oil for farmers. "In total, Kosovo imports up to 130 thousand tons of wheat in a year".

Demelezi has voiced the government's determination to confront long-standing abuses in grants and subsidies, pointing to a concerning involvement of high-level politicians. The government, under the leadership of Kurti II, has committed to addressing these abuses, particularly in the agricultural sector. They aim to involve law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability and justice. This commitment follows a pattern where past governments have also been accused of benefiting from the misuse of various projects.

Demelezi has pledged to ensure equal access and full integration of persons with disabilities in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development (MAFRD), particularly in the agricultural sector. He is committed to enabling the active participation of everyone in the country's food supply chain. This commitment aligns with Prime Minister Albin Kurti's declaration of 2022 as the "Year of Persons with Disabilities," signalling an intensified focus on enhancing opportunities and support for individuals with disabilities in the coming year.

Demelezi, has expressed concerns about the sustainability of the current food system in the meeting organised by "Institute for Development Policy (INDEP)". He stated that defining the existing food system is a complex task but emphasized the need to acknowledge that it is not sustainable. Demelezi pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has put this system to the test, revealing its lack of resilience on a global scale. He stressed that a food system unable to meet the healthy food needs of the majority is not truly serving the people.