The upper limit for subsidies offered to Water User Associations has increased. The government will subsidize up to 65% of the energy costs incurred for pumping water through irrigation systems, but no more than 3 million lei per applicant.

The issue was discussed by Vasile Șarban, state secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, with representatives of the Water User Associations. “We believe that this support will reduce the vulnerabilities of economic activities and will motivate farmers to become members of WUAs”, the state secretary emphasized.

The parties also discussed the project financed by the World Bank that provides investment grants for the rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure and the financing instruments that will be offered by the French Development Agency in the process of adapting agriculture to climate change.