Moldovan government facilitates access of micro-, small-, medum-sized farmers to subsidization funds

Chisinau, 24 November /MOLDPRES/ - The micro-, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers will be able to easier access sources of the National Fund of Development of Agriculture and Rural Environment (FNDAMR). In this respect, the government at a today’s meeting approved a draft on the amendment of the law on the principles of subsidization in the development of agriculture and rural environment, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.    

The document sees the adjusting of the policy of subsidization to the needs of the national economy and the residents, change of the notions of small, medium-sized and big agricultural producers. Also, decision-makers suggest the law’s completion with the notion ‘’micro agricultural producers’’, which has title, possession or use on up to two hectares of farmlands and/or up to one hectare of land occupied with perennial crops or one hectare of vegetables in open field or 0.1 hectares of vegetables in protected field or up to 40 heads of cattle or 50 heads of pigs, sheep/goats and, in any case, does not exceed the criteria established for the micro enterprise through the law on the small and medium-sized enterprises.   

Under the draft, the main amendments consist in enhancing the access of the micro-, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers to subsidies. Alsop, for the first time, decision-makers will favour the access to subsidies for the agricultural education institutions, as well as the ones of research and innovation. The associations of the users of water for irrigation will benefit from support on behalf of the state as well. They will be able to buy machines and equipment for the exploitation and maintenance of the irrigation and draining systems.    

The draft also sees the preservation of the present conditions of regulation as to the subsidization of the loans provided to agricultural producers and excluding the provision on the providing of direct payments per hectare.  

At the same time, the list of categories of producers due to benefit from increased subsidies will be extended. It refers to producers from the animal husbandry sector and the producers who associate. The changes are necessary in the context when the animal husbandry sector was declared priority sector and needs big investments, both on behalf of economic agents and of FNDAMR. The providing of increased subsidies will stimulate agricultural producers to invest large sums in its development.     

To speed up the process of redistribution of the financial means non-turned to account till 1 September of every current year, within a measure or sub-measure, decision-makers propose their approval by the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry, based on notifications on behalf of the Agency of Intervention and Payments for Agriculture.  

Photo: Government