Seven young people and 20 women running agricultural businesses received certificates that enable them to get subsidies in advance in a ceremony on November 12, IPN reports.

Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Nicolae Ciubuc reminded that 38 applications for subsidies were submitted during the first call of the program that ended on September 10. Of these, 27 were accepted. 60% of the applicants intend to set up multiannual plantations, while the rest to grow vegetates on protected areas, to breed animals or to develop post-harvest infrastructure.

“I’m convinced that these subsidies will bring value added and will contribute to diversifying activities in rural areas, creating jobs, developing entrepreneurial skills among young people and women and to minimizing the exodus of the population from rural areas,” stated Nicolae Ciubuc.

Acting director of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture Vadim Curmei said the 27 entrepreneurs requested subsidies totaling 13 million lei. Within 60 days, the beneficiaries are to present the proof of co-financing of 35% of the investment and to open an account for subsidies.

During the past two years, the National Agriculture and Rural Development Fund rose from 700 to 900 million lei. Since the start of 2018, investments totaling over 6 million lei were attracted to the agricultural sector, as opposed to 4.5 billion lei in 2017.

Within the second call of the program to provide payments in advance for entrepreneurial projects that was launched on September 17 and ends on November 14, there were filed ten applications for subsidies of 5.5 million lei.