State aid for winter spraying 2021

As of 8 February 2021, the State Fund “Agriculture” accepts applications under the scheme “Aid for compensating the costs of farmers related to the implementation of measures under the National Programme for the Control of Pests in Perennial Crops during the Winter Period”. The application period will continue until 5 March 2021.

Documents will be accepted for the purchase of plant protection products for the control of pests in permanent fruit plantations, strawberries, raspberries and oil-bearing rose during the winter season, which are applied in the period after the end of frosts until bud swelling.

The deadline for reporting the activities is 14 May 2021, and the funds will be paid by 30 June.

The Management Board of the State Fund “Agriculture” approved a financial resource of BGN 6 million under the scheme for winter spraying for 2021.

It should be recalled that the aid is provided in two stages. The first is in spring. It covers the period from the end of frosts until the swelling of fruit buds. Under this stage, farmers receive up to BGN 270 per hectare including VAT for products for pest control purchased with supporting accounting documents. The funds provided for the second stage are intended to cover part of the costs of fruit growers and vegetable growers incurred for plant protection products used in autumn, during the period of mass leaf fall and leaf decay. Under this stage, the financial support is up to BGN 100 per hectare including VAT.

The funds are paid only for plant protection products purchased from persons who are traders within the meaning of the Commercial Act and hold a certificate for trade in plant protection products on the grounds of Art. 91, para. 1 of the Plant Protection Act and are entered in the public register of the BFSA for plant protection products authorised for use, on the grounds of Art. 6, para. 1 of the Plant Protection Act.

The scheme aims to minimise the losses of farmers resulting from the spread of pests in perennial crops (pome and stone fruit species, strawberries, raspberries and oil-bearing rose).

For detailed information on how to apply under this scheme, see HERE