State Fund "Agriculture" will provide an additional 1 million leva for compensation of winter spraying for perennial crops

Starting November 5th, applications for support under the National Program for Pest Control in Permanent Plantations during the Winter Period will be accepted.

The National Program for Pest Control in Permanent Plantations during the Winter Period aims to limit losses and the spread of diseases and pests in the country. The Program primarily addresses pests that are affected by the applied agrotechnical and chemical control measures outside the plants' vegetative period. The measures envisaged in this program apply only to pome and stone fruit species. Their implementation reduces the overwintering stock of pests and disease pathogens in fruit crops, which ensures the normal development of plants at the beginning of the vegetation period and reduces the number of vegetative sprayings. This current National Program is intended for specialists – agronomists and agricultural producers – and was developed based on Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Plant Protection Law and Order No. RD 09-656/27.09.2013 of the Minister of Agriculture and Food. This official document of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food describes in detail the approved plant protection products with which fruit trees can be treated during the winter period on the territory of the country.

From November 5th to 20th, applications for support under the National Program for Pest Control in Permanent Plantations during the Winter Period will be accepted at the regional directorates of the State Fund "Agriculture". The SFA decided to provide an additional financial resource of 1 million leva in state aid to compensate farmers for the costs of winter spraying of permanent plantations. Thus, the total amount of aid envisaged for 2015 reaches 3 million leva. Within the announced application period, aid will be provided to small and medium-sized enterprises - registered farmers of fruit crops, strawberries, and raspberries. All costs for purchasing plant protection products, as well as products for accelerating leaf decomposition processes, will be supported.

The deadline for reporting the activities carried out in connection with the winter sprayings is December 4th, and for concluding contracts and disbursing the state aid funds – December 18th, 2015.

National Program for Pest Control in Permanent Plantations during the Winter Period