Help for winter spraying

Until 17 March 2023, agricultural producers may apply for support under the scheme “Aid for compensating the costs of agricultural producers related to the implementation of measures under the National Programme for Pest Control in Perennial Crops during the Winter Period”.

The budget of the State aid for 2023 is BGN 8,000,000. Its purpose is to minimise the losses of agricultural producers resulting from the spread of pests in perennial crops (pome and stone fruit species, strawberries, raspberries and oil-bearing rose).

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, producers receive up to BGN 324 per hectare including VAT for purchased plant protection products against pests.

The funds provided for the second stage cover part of the costs of fruit growers and vegetable growers incurred for plant protection products used in autumn. They are applied during the period of mass leaf fall and leaf decay. The amount of aid for this stage will be determined after re-notification of the State aid for the period after 30.06.2023 and after receipt of the final number in the State Aid Register of the European Commission. The funds are paid only for plant protection products purchased from persons who are traders within the meaning of the Commerce Act and hold a certificate for trading in plant protection products pursuant to Article 91, paragraph 1 of the Plant Protection Act and are entered in the public register of the BFSA for authorised plant protection products pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 1 of the Plant Protection Act.

It is important to note that support is provided for plant protection product costs incurred after submission of a written application to the State Fund “Agriculture” (SFA), before the activity under the respective stage of pest control has commenced.

Applications for participation in the scheme are accepted at the regional directorates of the SFA. Producers must report the costs incurred and submit documents for the purchased and applied plant protection products by 19 May 2023. By 30 June, the State Fund “Agriculture” will pay the financial aid under the scheme.

The Guidelines for the implementation of the State aid are published on the SFA website.

Source: SF “Agriculture” - PA