Agriculture Ministry excludes two types of agricultural subsidies

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry has eliminated two types of agricultural subsidies. The draft regulations on subsidization in agriculture for 2012 do not envision giving subsidies for purchasing fertilizers and for covering the costs of pumping water for irrigation, the Ministry’s press secretary Constantin Rotaru has told Info-Prim Neo. The draft regulations were discussed with representatives of NGOs working in agriculture. They suggested extensively subsidizing the construction of packinghouses and providing financial support to farmers who do not own large areas of farmland. The regulations on subsidization in agriculture for 2012 include eight measures, as against 10 last year. This year there will be insured the risks in agriculture and set up or extended the multiannual plantations. There will be also extended the protected areas for cultivating vegetables, bought irrigation equipment, stimulated the investments in founding and reconstructing animal-breeding farms and in creating post-harvest infrastructure, purchased thoroughbred animals, etc. Subsidies this year will be given to agricultural economic entities that signed contracts with the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture starting with November 1, 2011. A sum of 400 million lei was budgeted for paying agricultural subsidies in 2012.