The Agency for the Development and Modernization of Agriculture will waive penalties for farmers that missed their payments in 2024 due to natural calamities such as droughts. The condition is to present a certificate ascertaining the situation issued by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is one of the measures presented by Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, at a meeting of the Agency’s Supervisory Committee.
Another proposal is that farmers affected by drought and other natural calamities in 2024 be granted a 6-month payment moratorium on interim installments due from 2 September to 31 December 2024. This will be possible on written request from farmers, based on the same certificate.
It is also proposed to suspend the payment of the last installment due in 2024, for the same period, September 2-December 31, 2024, under the same conditions.
In addition to these measures, it was decided to reduce the initial advance payment required under the Small-Scale Irrigation System Development Program from 40% to 20%, thus facilitating farmers’ access to irrigation equipment essential for agricultural sustainability.
“With these measures, the Ministry comes to the aid of farmers who are facing major difficulties due to unfavorable climatic conditions, ensuring them the necessary support to continue their activity and maintain the stability of the agricultural sector”, a press release reads.
Earlier, representatives of the Farmers’ Force Association asked the authorities to introduce a state of emergency in agriculture, enabling a moratorium on the payment of penalties and foreclosures. Although farmers threatened with protests, the authorities have made it clear that imposing a state of emergency would not be the best course of action. Instead, the government promised 100 million lei to compensate farmers’ losses.
