Irrigation scheme for agricultural crops: deadlines, documents and budget

Until 02 October 2023, farmers may apply for support under the scheme „Aid in support of irrigation water costs for the cultivation of agricultural crops“ for 2023, approved in accordance with the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework for State Aid Measures in support of the economy in connection with the war in Ukraine.

Application forms for support, generated by the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), will be accepted in the Regional Directorates (RD) of the State Fund ”Agriculture” (SFA), Department „Implementation of Schemes and Measures for Support” (ISMS).

Documents shall be submitted according to the permanent address of the natural person and the registered office of the sole trader or legal entity.

The Management Board of the SFA has approved a budget of BGN 16 million under the scheme. The state aid will compensate up to 80% of the costs incurred by farmers for irrigation.

In order to receive the support, the farmer must have concluded an irrigation contract with a water supplier. The provider of the service „Supply of water for irrigation“ is obliged, by 30 October 2023, to provide information to the State Fund „Agriculture“ individually for each farmer who has concluded a contract with it and has paid the invoice(s) for the service „Supply of water for irrigation“, indicating the amount of the payment made.

By 30 November 2023, the SFA will pay the funds under the targeted aid to the eligible applicants. The subsidies will be transferred after completion of all administrative checks, including of the individual data on irrigation payments for each farmer, provided by the provider of the service „Supply of water for irrigation“.

The maximum aid intensity is up to EUR 250,000 (BGN 488,957.50) per undertaking whose activity is in the primary production of agricultural products. For this purpose, the aid is accumulated within the maximum intensity together with other temporary state aid measures: „Aid in support of the liquidity of farmers to overcome the negative economic impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine“, implemented in 2022, and „Aid in support of the liquidity of farmers to overcome the negative economic impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine“, implemented in 2023.

The guidelines for the implementation of the state aid are published on the SFA website.