The premiums for insurance against risks in agriculture will be subsidized until December 31, 2012, under an amendment to the relevant law of July 8, 2004 approved by the Government, Info-Prim Neo reports. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Valeriu Cosarciuc said the term for subsidizing the agricultural insurance premiums by the state is five years and expires on January 1, 2010. Cosarciuc said 75 subsidized agricultural insurance contracts have been signed this year. The state subsidizes a total of 4 million lei of the 25 million lei planned for the purpose. This year, the state pays 60% of the insurance for multiannual plantations, sugar beet and vegetables and 50% for the other crops and animals. Though the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the NGOs explained the importance of agricultural insurance, as Cosarciuc said, the farmers did not hurry to sign insurance contracts. During 2006-2008, when the state subsidized 80% of the agricultural insurance premiums, the number of insurance contracts signed by the farmers was much higher. In 2010, the state will also subsidize 60% of the agricultural insurance premiums.