Acceptance of applications for pest control in perennial crops during the winter period for 2017

As of 8 February, the State Fund "Agriculture" has started accepting applications under the State Aid Scheme for compensating the costs of farmers related to the implementation of measures under the National Programme for the Control of Pests in Permanent Crops during the Winter Period for 2017.

The deadline for submitting applications for support for pest control in the period after the cold spell until bud swelling is 2 March. By 13 April farmers must report to the State Fund "Agriculture". The deadline for concluding the contracts and for the payment of the funds is 26 May 2017.

For this year, a financial resource of a total of 4 million leva is envisaged under the scheme, and the remaining unutilised resource from the spring period will be allocated for the autumn stage of implementation of the aid in November.

The main objective of the state aid is to minimise as much as possible the losses of farmers from the spread of pests in permanent fruit crops, as well as in strawberry and raspberry plantations.

The funds provided by the SFA are intended to compensate part of the costs incurred by farmers for the purchase of plant protection products for permanent fruit crops, strawberries and raspberries. Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 702/2014 and the requirement for the presence of an incentive effect, under the reporting under the pest control scheme, expenditure documents will be recognised only for costs incurred after the submission of the application for support.

Source: State Fund "Agriculture" - PA