The young people and women who want to start businesses in agriculture could apply for subsidies in advance from the national agriculture and rural development fund as from July 1 this year. Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Liviu Volconovici said 45 million lei will be allocated from the fund for the purpose. The authorities estimate that 500 new jobs will be created as  a result, especially in rural areas, IPN reports.

Those who want to get subsidies in advance should design a business plan based on which the projects will be selected. Those who will convince the authorities that they can develop modern agribusinesses and will create at least one job in the village can receive state subsidies beforehand. The projects should be worth up to 1 million lei to which the state will contribute 65%.

To obtain financial support, the applicant needs a feasible business plan and the investment should be made in rural areas, in legally owned property. The project implementation period should be at most 24 months. The applicant should not have no debts to the national public budget and should not be affiliated to another agricultural producer. During the next two months, each eligible beneficiary can submit the file to the local office of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture, in the district where this has the legal address and where this intends to implement the project.

According to the director of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture Nicolae Ciubuc, the conditions apply to startup projects to invest in fruit and vegetable growing on protected land (greenhouses, tunnels), to equip and reequip animal breeding farms, to purchase purebred animals and to develop post-harvest and processing infrastructure.

During the next two weeks, representatives of the Agency will conduct a campaign to inform the potential beneficiaries.