The state will provide additional funds for the control of pests in permanent crops during the winter period

BGN 670 thousand in additional financial resources will be allocated under the scheme „Aid for compensating the costs of farmers related to the implementation of measures under the National Programme for Pest Control in Permanent Crops during the Winter Period” for 2018, as decided by the Managing Board of the State Fund „Agriculture“. Thus, the total resources under the scheme for 2018 increase from BGN 4,700,000 to BGN 5,370,000.

By decision of the Managing Board of the State Fund „Agriculture" for 2018, BGN 4,700,000 were allocated under the scheme for the two stages of the aid. During the first stage – the spring one, funds in the amount of BGN 3,969,579 were utilized by 2,852 farmers. The remaining, unutilized resources, which are to be allocated for the second stage, amount to BGN 730,421.

The submission of applications for pest control in permanent crops continued from 15 to 31 October. After summarizing the information from the submitted applications, it became clear that the eligible areas for support are over 16,400 ha. They require resources of nearly BGN 1,400,000, which results in a shortfall of nearly BGN 670,000.

The purpose of the aid is to limit losses from the spread of pests in permanent fruit crops (pome and stone fruit species), strawberries and raspberries, which are affected by the measures for control and eradication applied outside the vegetation period of the crops, and by which the overwintering forms of pests are destroyed.

Source: SF „Agriculture“-PA