State aid for vine-growers, fruit growers and vegetable producers in September

From 1 to 16 September farmers may apply for State aid “Aid in support of the liquidity of agricultural producers to overcome the negative economic impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine“ for 2022. The total financial support amounts to BGN 426 million for all sectors and will be paid by 28 September 2022.

Emergency aid for the "Fruit and Vegetables" sector from the EU

The budget in the crop production sector amounts to BGN 222,000,000 and is allocated for the following fruits and vegetables (greenhouse and field):

apples, pears, apricots (zarzali, peaches), nectarines, sweet cherries, sour cherries, field strawberries, field raspberries, plums, table grapes, field tomatoes, field cucumbers, gherkins, eggplant, field peppers, greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse cucumbers, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse strawberries, greenhouse raspberries, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, cabbage, watermelons and melons, oil-bearing rose, rice, wine vineyards, nuts (walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts), lettuce and salad, okra, zucchini and tobacco.

The maximum aid intensity is up to EUR 62,000 (BGN 121,261) per enterprise whose activity is in the sector of primary agricultural production.

For determining the amount of the aid, part of the costs related to the production of primary agricultural products has been taken into account. The aid is calculated on the basis of specific rates per measure and type of crop and covers part of the total increase in the production costs of farmers.

The aid for fruits and vegetables, wine vineyards, oil-bearing rose, rice, nuts (walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts), lettuce, salad, okra, zucchini and tobacco is as follows:

• apples, pears, apricots/zarzali, peaches/nectarines, sweet cherries/sour cherries, strawberries, raspberries – BGN 2,779/ha;

• plums and table grapes – BGN 2,779/ha;

• field tomatoes, field cucumbers, gherkins, eggplant – BGN 2,880/ha;

• field peppers – BGN 3,673/ha;

• greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers:

– for greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers grown in heated greenhouses – BGN 68,060/ha;

– for greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse peppers, greenhouse cucumbers grown in unheated greenhouses – BGN 5,538/ha;

• greenhouse strawberries, greenhouse raspberries – BGN 19,330/ha

• potatoes, onions, garlic – BGN 2,781/ha;

• carrots, cabbage, watermelons and melons – BGN 2,511/ha;

• wine grapes – BGN 449/ha;

• oil-bearing rose – BGN 1,557/ha;

• rice – BGN 449/ha;

• nuts (walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) – BGN 449/ha;

• lettuce and salad – BGN 1,630/ha;

• okra – BGN 2,242/ha;

• zucchini – BGN 1,758/ha;

• tobacco – BGN 1,118/ha.

Second call under measure “Investments in enterprises“ of the National Wine Sector Support Programme

From 12 to 20 September 2022 a second call will be opened for the granting of financial aid under measure “Investments in enterprises“ of the National Programme for Support of the Wine Sector (NPWS).

Measure “Investments in enterprises“ became part of the National Wine Sector Programme in 2019, when the first call was launched, and now it will be opened for the sixth time. The State Fund “Agriculture“ will work within shortened deadlines in order to complete the processing of the projects by 31.12.2022.

Eligible activities for financing under the measure are the purchase of new machinery and equipment related to the process of production and storage of wine, as well as construction and installation works for the construction, superstructure, extension and/or reconstruction of buildings intended for the production and storage of wine, quality control of the wines produced, etc.

The maximum value of a single project may not exceed EUR 800,000, and the maximum amount of total eligible costs for the entire period of the National Programme for Support of the Wine Sector 2019-2023 for a single applicant is EUR 2,000,000.

Information measure in the wine sector

From 26 to 28 September 2022, inclusive, applications will be accepted under measure “Information in Member States“ of the National Programme for Support in the Wine Sector 2019-2023. The measure is being implemented for the second time after its introduction into the national programme. The budget envisaged for 2023 is over BGN 1 million, including European and national co-financing.

The measure is implemented for informing consumers about the responsible consumption of wine and the risk associated with harmful alcohol consumption and/or the European Union scheme for PDO and PGI as regards the specific quality, reputation or other characteristics of wine attributable to its specific geographical environment or its origin.

Eligible activities for financing are related to conducting information campaigns in the media, preparation of information materials such as brochures, leaflets, flyers, posters, billboards, etc., creation of a website, participation in events, exhibitions, fairs, festivals and conferences.

Recognised producer organisations of wine sector products, associations of producer organisations of wine sector products, interbranch organisations under the Wine and Spirits Act, professional organisations working mainly in the wine sector with not less than two years of history as from the date of initial registration, as well as public-law organisations, where they are not the sole beneficiaries of the aid, are eligible to apply for support.

The maximum eligible value of a single project under the measure within the current call is BGN 200,000, with the value including European and national co-financing and the applicant’s own contribution.

An important condition for applying under this measure is that if applicants choose to carry out activities related to wines without PGI and PDO, they will be entitled only to European Union funding of up to 50% of the value of their information projects. If applicants choose activities only for wines with PDO or PGI, they will be able to receive up to 50% European funding and up to 30% national co-financing.