Vegetable and fruit growers may apply for targeted loans from the State Fund Agriculture for seeds and fertilizers until the end of April

The deadline by which farmers may submit applications for targeted loans for the purchase of seeds, seedlings and fertilizers for the production of vegetables (field and greenhouse production) and for the purchase of fertilizers necessary for the cultivation of permanent crops: fruits (apples, pears, apricots and apricot hybrids, sweet cherries, sour cherries, peaches and nectarines, strawberries, raspberries, plums, table grapes), wine vineyards and oil-bearing rose, is extended until 30 April 2021. Documents shall be submitted to the Regional Directorates of the State Fund „Agriculture”. The provision of the loan resources will be carried out until 31 May 2021. The approved financial resource amounts to a total of BGN 12 million.

Eligible for support are registered agricultural producers who have submitted and finalized an application under the coupled support schemes for the production of fruits (apples, pears, apricots and apricot hybrids, sweet cherries, sour cherries, peaches and nectarines, strawberries and raspberries; plums and table grapes) and/or vegetables (field and/or greenhouse), crop 2020, and applicants cultivating wine vineyards and oil-bearing rose are required to have submitted an application for support under the SAPS, crop 2020.

The loans will be provided to cover part of the production costs according to the technological card for the individual crops, at the following rates per hectare:

Vegetables:

• tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers (greenhouse production) for seeds/seedlings – BGN 19,500/ha and for fertilizers – BGN 6,000/ha;
• tomatoes, cucumbers, gherkins and eggplants (field production) for seeds/seedlings – BGN 3,200/ha and for fertilizers – BGN 680/ha;
• peppers (field production) for seeds/seedlings – BGN 3,500/ha and for fertilizers – BGN 910/ha;
• potatoes, onions and garlic (field production) for seeds/seedlings – BGN 1,470/ha and for fertilizers – BGN 510/ha;
• carrots, cabbage, watermelons and melons (field production) for seeds/seedlings – BGN 650/ha and for fertilizers – BGN 550/ha;

Permanent crops:

• apples, pears, apricots and apricot hybrids, sweet cherries, sour cherries, peaches and nectarines, strawberries and raspberries – BGN 600/ha;
• plums and table grapes – BGN 520/ha;
• wine vineyards – BGN 460/ha;
• oil-bearing rose – BGN 200/ha.

The interest rate on the loan is 1.5% per annum. The repayment deadline is 30 November 2021. The maximum amount of loan resources provided by the State Fund „Agriculture” is BGN 300,000 per agricultural producer.

The guidelines under the scheme are published on the website of the State Fund „Agriculture”.