The process of collecting applications for agricultural subsidies that was stopped on September 27 was resumed on October 13. Applications can be submitted to the local subdivisions of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture by October 31, IPN reports.
“We expect those producers that made investments and sustained costs that are eligible for being subsidized. The amounts asked for through the applications collected until September 27 from 2,700 producers are over the limit of the agriculture subsidization fund for 2016. Thus, the applications are to be examined and paid from the agriculture subsidization fund for 2017,” stated the Agency’s director Nicolae Ciubuc.
He reminded that the agriculture subsidization fund for this year was planned at 900 million lei. Owing to the budget constraints, this was reduced by 200 million lei. Of the remaining 700 million lei, 480 million lei was paid out. 294 million lei represented the debts for 2015, while 58 million lei the debts for 2014, plus other debts. By October 10-11, the debts were cleared. The money was transferred to 1,200 agricultural producers.
“A sum of 215 million lei remained. That’s why the applications that will go beyond this limit will be paid to producers in 2017. The applications will be examined starting with February next year,” he stated.
Nicolae Ciubuc also said that the quality of the files presented by agricultural producers is now higher, a lower number of applications being rejected because they do not meet the requirements. The agricultural producers became more responsible. In 2016, only 15 applications were rejected.
The 2017 draft state budget law provides that the agriculture subsidization fund will total 900 million lei.
