The system for providing payments in advance from the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund covers the agricultural producers that are young farmers or female farmers. Within the program, these will be able to benefit from financial support only once, IPN reports.

The subsidies in advance will be provided based on the investment projects submitted by agricultural producers that perform an economic activity in the agrifood sector for the first time and are not affiliated to another agricultural producer. This is provided in a draft decision to approve the regulations concerning the conditions and procedure for providing payments in advance from the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund.

Under the proposed regulations, the beginner agricultural producers will get the subsidy in two installments. The first installment will represent 75% of the value of the subvention and will be released when the beneficiary signs the contract for the provision of financial support. The second installment of 25% will be transferred to the beneficiary when the investment is made, within 24 months.

The financial support per beneficiary will not exceed 650,000 lei or 65% of the eligible value of the investment given that the subsidies for young farmers or female farmers will be increased by 15% in accordance with the law on the subsidization of agricultural producers.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment said at least 5% a year will be allocated from the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund for implementing the system for providing payments in advance. In 2018 the allocations will total 45 million lei.