The sub-measure for supporting small farms starts on July 4

Ordinance No. 10 of 10 June 2016 on the implementation of Sub-measure 6.3 “Start-up aid for the development of small farms” under Measure 6 “Development of farms and enterprises” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014–2020. In issue 46 of 17.6.2016 the full text of Ordinance No. 10 was officially published. By order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food the application period under Sub-measure 6.3 “Start-up aid for the development of small farms” has been determined. Applications for support will be accepted from 4 July to 12 August.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Ordinance No. 10 of 10 June 2016 on the implementation of Sub-measure 6.3 “Start-up aid for the development of small farms” under Measure 6 “Development of farms and enterprises” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014–2020.

Chapter One

General Provisions

Art. 1. This Ordinance lays down the conditions and procedure for the implementation of Sub-measure 6.3 “Start-up aid for the development of small farms” under Measure 6 “Development of farms and enterprises” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014–2020 (RDP 2014–2020), co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

Art. 2. Sub-measure 6.3 “Start-up aid for the development of small farms” aims at:

1. the economic development and strengthening of small agricultural holdings as sustainable and viable units;

2. accelerating the modernisation and technological renewal of small agricultural holdings;

3. improving environmental protection and combating climate change.

Art. 3. The financial aid shall be provided in accordance with the principles of sound financial management, publicity and transparency.

Chapter Two

Conditions for granting financial aid

Section I

Scope of activities

Art. 4. (1) The financial aid under this Ordinance is non-repayable and is granted for the sustainable development and growth of small agricultural holdings.

(2) No financial aid shall be granted for activities related to tobacco production.

(3) No financial aid shall be granted to agricultural holdings which continue to grow tobacco after the end of the financial year in which the contract for granting financial aid was concluded.

Section II

Requirements for applicants

Art. 5. (1) The following may apply for support:

1. natural persons who have attained 18 years of age;

2. sole traders (ET), single-member limited liability companies (EOOD) or limited liability companies (OOD) registered under the Commerce Act;

3. cooperatives registered under the Cooperatives Act.

(2) On the date of submission of the application for support the persons under para. 1 must:

1. be registered as farmers under Ordinance No. 3 of 1999 on the establishment and maintenance of a register of farmers (SG, issue 10 of 1999), hereinafter referred to as “Ordinance No. 3 of 1999”;

2. have received from agricultural activity at least 33 per cent of their total revenues/income for the previous calendar year;

3. have an economic size of the holding, measured in Standard Output (SO), in the range between EUR 2,000 and EUR 7,999 inclusive;

4. be owners, tenants and/or lessees of all land available in the agricultural holding;

5. be owners and/or users of the livestock holdings, buildings and premises used for livestock farming, in case they carry out such activity;

6. be micro-enterprises or small enterprises within the meaning of Art. 3, paras. 2 and 3 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Act;

7. not have been approved for support under this Ordinance, as well as under:

a) Ordinance No. 9 of 2015 on the implementation of Sub-measure 4.1 “Investments in agricultural holdings” under Measure 4 “Investments in physical assets” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014–2020 (SG, issue 22 of 2015);

b) Ordinance No. 20 of 2015 on the implementation of Sub-measure 4.2 “Investments in processing/marketing of agricultural products” under Measure 4 “Investments in physical assets” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014–2020 (SG, issue 84 of 2015);

c) Ordinance No. 9 of 2008 on the conditions and procedure for granting non-repayable financial aid under Measure “Setting up of young farmers” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2007–2013 (SG, issue 42 of 2008);

d) Ordinance No. 14 of 2015 on the implementation of Sub-measure 6.1 “Start-up aid for young farmers” under Measure 6 “Development of farms and enterprises” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014–2020 (SG, issue 40 of 2015);

8. not have been issued an approval order for support under Ordinance No. 28 of 2008 on the conditions and procedure for granting non-repayable financial aid under Measure “Support for semi-subsistence farms undergoing restructuring” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2007–2013 (SG, issue 74 of 2008) (Ordinance No. 28 of 2008) for the last five years; where applicants have been issued approval orders under Ordinance No. 28 of 2008, they are eligible for support under this Ordinance if, on the date of submission of the application for support:

a) they have successfully completed their five-year commitment under Ordinance No. 28 of 2008 and the fifth financial year of implementation of the business plan has expired, and

b) they have received all payments under Ordinance No. 28 of 2008, and

c) the financial year during which they submitted the request for their fifth payment under Ordinance No. 28 of 2008 has expired.

(3) For the sole traders under para. 1, item 2, who have been registered in the Commercial Register and as farmers under Ordinance No. 3 of 1999 in the year of application, the circumstances under para. 2, items 2 and 3 may also be proven in their capacity as natural persons.

(4) The lease and/or tenancy contracts for the land on which the crops included in determining the required minimum economic size of the holding of EUR 2,000 SO are situated must:

1. have entered into force on the date of submission of the application for support;

2. have a minimum term of validity of five years from the date of submission of the application for support.

(5) All land available in the agricultural holding under para. 2, item 4 must be managed by the applicant:

1. with a legal basis for use in accordance with Art. 41, para. 2 of the Law on Support to Agricultural Producers for the entire period from the date of submission of the application for support until the expiry of five years from the date of signing the contract for granting financial aid;

2. in accordance with Art. 33b of the Law on Support to Agricultural Producers;

3. in compliance with the regimes of the protected areas under the Protected Areas Act and/or the regimes of the protected zones under the Biological Diversity Act for the areas/activities of the holding that fall within them.

All information on Sub-measure 6.3 “Start-up aid for the development of small farms” under Measure 6 “Development of farms and enterprises” of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014–2020 and its annexes can be read HERE