Support for the cultivation of varieties resistant to climatic conditions through integrated production practices

Until 19 June, farmers may submit proposals on the implementation of the ordinance on applying for interventions in the field of environment and climate under the Strategic Plan, where support is provided in the form of annual compensations; this also includes the new intervention for support of the cultivation of varieties through integrated production practices and varieties resistant to climate change.

Under the intervention for „Support for the cultivation of varieties resistant to climatic conditions through integrated production practices”, the following farmers are eligible: those registered in the register under Art. 6, para. 1, item 10 of the Plant Protection Act as of 1 January of the year of application; those who meet and comply with the requirements of Art. 11 of the Plant Protection Act; those who annually, by 30 July, on the basis of the numbers of the agricultural parcels in IACS, have submitted to the State Fund Agriculture via the Electronic Services System information and copies of the official documents for the purchased and used standard or certified seeds, in accordance with the optimal input norms per unit area as set out in Annex 4.

List of approved crops:

For winter common wheat – there must be 450–600 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 200–240 kg/ha;

Durum wheat – there must be 400–600 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 220–280 kg/ha;

Winter two-row barley – there must be 400–450 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 160–180 kg/ha;

Winter multi-row barley – there must be 400–500 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 160–200 kg/ha;

Triticale – there must be 550–650 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 220–260 kg/ha;

Winter oats – there must be 500–600 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 150–180 kg/ha;

Spring fodder barley – there must be 550–600 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 200–240 kg/ha;

Oats – there must be 450–600 germinable seeds per 1 sq. m or 140–180 kg/ha;

Maize (corn) – there must be from 15 to 22 kg/ha;

Sunflower – there must be 4–8 kg/ha.

Farmers undertake and comply with a voluntary multiannual commitment under the intervention with a duration of 5 consecutive years. The period under the first sentence starts to run from the beginning of the year of submission and approval of the „application for support“. They are obliged during this period to comply with the obligations and requirements for the management of activities on the same areas approved for participation in the first year of the undertaken multiannual commitment.

The area of the agricultural parcels applied for support under the intervention is eligible when, after checks have been carried out, it has been established that it is not less than ten decares, or 1 ha; varieties are grown that have been developed for cultivation under specific conditions, in accordance with Annex No 3; it meets the requirements of § 1, item 55 of the supplementary provisions of the Agricultural Producers Support Act.

The maximum area eligible for support under the intervention is up to 300 ha.

During the period, on the areas approved for participation in the multiannual commitment under the intervention, no other type of production shall be carried out, in accordance with the Plant Protection Act.

Under the intervention, support will be primarily directed to agricultural holdings where all areas with the eligible agricultural crops are managed in accordance with the principles of integrated production, so as to ensure an additional environmental effect through a significant contribution by the farmer.

1. comply with the general and specific principles of integrated pest management and the requirements laid down in Ordinance No 9 of 2021 on the integrated production of plants and plant products and the control over integrated production (promulgated in SG No 21 of 2021), hereinafter referred to as „Ordinance No 9 of 2021“;

2. keep documentation for the implementation of the activities, in accordance with the templates of applications, notifications, protocols, declarations, logs and others, pursuant to Art. 3 of Ordinance No 9 of 2021, and comply with the mandatory instructions of the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), approved under the procedure of Art. 3 of Ordinance No 9 of 2021.