Twenty-three female entrepreneurs and 15 young farmers have submitted applications within the first call of the program to provide payments in advance for entrepreneurial projects that was closed on September 10. The examination of applications will start soon and the procedure for paying subsidies will be launched at end-September. The applicants asked for subsidies to the value of 19 million lei of the total 45 million lei allocated for the purpose from the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund, IPN reports.

Nicolae Ciubuc, director of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture, told a news conference that 18 applicants intend to set up multiannual plantations, ten to renovate animal farms, seven to develop beekeeping businesses, while three to breed animals for production purposes.

The second call of the program will be launched on September 17. Applications will be accepted by November 15. A sum of 26 million lei remained unclaimed during the first call.

Nicolae Ciubuc also spoke about the distribution of the resources of the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund in 2018. By September 13, they received 2,840 applications from farmers for subsidies totaling 430 million lei. After examining 1,874 applications, it was decided to allocate a sum of 230 million lei in subsidies for being paid out. Among the most popular investment areas are the development of post-harvest and processing infrastructure, purchase of agricultural machinery and creation of multiannual plantations.