The authorities are late in refunding 900 million lei to agricultural producers. The term of 30 days for refunding the VAT from the state budget is not realistic, considers former minister of finance Mihai Manole, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a radio program, Mihai Manole said he wasn’t sure that the state institutions are sufficiently prepared for starting the VAT refunding process. In the same connection, Minister of Agriculture Vasile Bumacov said that 90% of the agricultural producers are honest and say they will pay all the taxes, but want to be sure that the VAT will be refunded to them. Vasile Bumacov also said that the agriculture subsidization fund in 2013 will be larger. It will include 460 million lei, by 60 million lei more than in 2012. The anti-hail fund was increased to 72 million lei. Another 14 million lei was allocated for rural extension, i.e. consultancy. The VAT for agricultural producers on January 1, 2013 rose from 8% to 20%. The difference of 12% is to be refunded to the producers within 30 days.