From 1 November to 25 November, vegetable growers may apply for support for winter spraying

From 1 November to 25 November 2024, agricultural producers may apply for support under the scheme “Aid to compensate the costs of agricultural producers related to the implementation of measures under the National Programme for the Control of Pests in Permanent Crops during the Winter Period”.

The budget of the State aid for 2024 is BGN 10,000,000. Its purpose is to minimise the losses of agricultural producers from the spread of pests in permanent crops (pome and stone fruit species, strawberries, raspberries and oil-bearing rose).

We recall that the aid is granted in two stages – spring and autumn. The funds that are now being provided for the second stage cover part of the costs of fruit growers incurred for plant protection products used in the autumn. They are applied during the period of mass leaf fall and leaf decay. Under this stage, farmers receive up to BGN 140 per hectare including VAT for purchased pest control products. For the spring stage, BGN 6,697,060 were paid earlier in the year.

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 trade in plant protection products, on the grounds of Article 91, paragraph 1 of the Plant Protection Act, and are entered in the public register of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), on the grounds of Article 6, paragraph 1, item 4 of the Plant Protection Act.   

Applications for support under the aid scheme are accepted at the regional directorates of the State Fund “Agriculture”. Farmers must account for the expenses incurred and submit documents for the purchased and applied plant protection products when submitting their applications or not later than 25 November 2024.

By 20 December, 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 website of the State Fund “Agriculture”.