From 15 April to 31 May 2020, the State Fund „Agriculture” will accept applications under the de minimis scheme in support of Bulgarian greenhouse producers. The financial support aims to assist farmers in the marketing of the fresh vegetables they produce. The budget approved by the Management Board of the State Fund „Agriculture“ under the scheme is BGN 5 million. The funds will be paid by 30 June.
The aid is part of the measures introduced by the state as relief for farmers due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The financial support will be provided to food retail outlets. They must ensure direct access for consumers to the fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers produced in greenhouses. The funds will compensate part of the costs of the retail outlets for transport, logistics and marketing of fresh Bulgarian vegetables from greenhouse production in the retail network in 2020.
The scheme has been developed specifically for small local chains that have stores in one or several neighbouring administrative regions. They will serve as the link between producers and consumers. The retail outlets will purchase fresh greenhouse vegetables – tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, will sort them, package them and sell them.
The unit rate of support provided for the retail outlets is BGN 600 for tomatoes, BGN 400 for cucumbers and BGN 800 for peppers. The calculation includes part of the cost per tonne that the applicant for the aid will incur to bring the produce into a marketable form.
Only farmers who have submitted applications under the coupled support scheme for vegetables – greenhouse production for Campaign 2019 and have been determined as eligible are entitled to offer produce in the retail outlets. The retail outlets must be registered under Article 12 of the Food Act and be entered in the public register of the BFSA. In order to receive the funds, they must prove to the State Fund „Agriculture“ with invoices that they have purchased the produce from the farmers.
The guidelines for the State aid and the accompanying registers are published on the website of the State Fund „Agriculture“.
Source: State Fund "Agriculture" - PA
