During August 15—November 1, groups of fruit and vegetable growers will be able to apply for grants of up to $350,000 to buy post-harvest equipment and machinery, such as for sorting, cleaning, calibration, packaging, drying, storage and refrigeration.

The support is offered by the World Bank within the framework of the “Facilitating Access to Markets” Investment Program.

To qualify for a grant, applicants should team up in groups of at least five growers (both companies and individuals), with each having experience of three years or more in the horticulture business, and contribute a minimum 50% of the total eligible costs.

Newly formed groups as well as groups formed during previous calls for applications can participate.

The applications should be submitted to the territorial offices of the governmental Agriculture Intervention and Payments Agency (AIPA). More information about the eligibility criteria and application package is available on the Agency’s website www.aipa.gov.md.

The “Facilitating Access to Markets” Investment Program is at its sixth implementation round. Since its launch in 2014, 30 groups of farmers bringing together 161 separate fruit and vegetable growers received funding under the Program. The Program offered a total $7.5 million, while the groups of producers chipped in $8.6 million.