The new vine and wine programme starts at the beginning of 2019

From 28 January to 8 February 2019 the first application round under measure „Restructuring and Conversion of Vineyards” of the new National Support Programme for the Wine Sector for the period 2019-2023 will be opened. Pursuant to Order of the Executive Director of the State Fund „Agriculture“, the budget for financial year 2019 is nearly BGN 22 million (21,802,818 BGN), and for 2020 – over BGN 28.5 million (28,521,112 BGN). The total funds envisaged under the programme for its five-year implementation period amount to nearly BGN 262 million.

During the first application round only applications for financing under the measure with a deadline for implementation of activities in financial years 2019 and 2020 will be accepted and processed. The objective of the support is to increase the competitiveness of wine producers, which in turn will ensure a fair standard of living for the respective farming community.

The main novelties in the legislation are related to the eligibility of vineyard plots for which financing may be received. Activities under measure „Restructuring and Conversion of Vineyards“ for which financing has been received for the same areas during the last 10 financial years will not be subsidised. Blocks for activities related to improving vineyard management techniques that have received support for this purpose during the last 5 years will also not be supported.

Four measures are envisaged in the programme – „Promotion in Third Countries“, „Restructuring and Conversion of Vineyards“, „Investments“ and „Harvest Insurance“. The measures „Promotion in Third Countries“ and „Restructuring and Conversion of Vineyards“ were successfully implemented also under the previous programme.

The new measures in the programme are two - „Investments“, with a budget of BGN 16.6 million for 2019, and „Harvest Insurance“, which has a budget of BGN 2 million. They are introduced not only with a view to modernising and increasing the competitiveness of the sector, but also to improving the risk management process.

Interest in the measure „Restructuring and Conversion of Vineyards” is steadily increasing. The expiring year was the most successful so far for the measure, with implementation for financial year 2018 of 91.38%, and payments made amounting to BGN 46,335,143. The activity for which the largest number of projects were approved is replanting without change of location. Under this sub-measure, 75 vineyard blocks have been modernised. There was also strong interest in the activity construction of hydro‑reclamation facilities - drip irrigation systems, under which 74 projects were approved.

The upcoming application round will be regulated by the provisions of Ordinance No 6 of 26.10.2018 on the conditions and procedures for granting financial aid under the National Support Programme for the Wine Sector for the period 2019 – 2023.

Applications for support will be accepted at the Central Office of the State Fund „Agriculture“ – Sofia, 3 „Gusla” Str., after prior appointment at the following telephone numbers: (+ 359) 2 8187 514, (+ 359) 2 81 87 505, and (+ 359) 2 81 87 534.

Source State Fund „Agriculture” - Paying Agency