Management Board of the State Fund Agriculture (SFA) decided on its yesterday's meeting to grant an individual de minimis aid amounting to EUR 7,500 (BGN 14,669) to 42 farmers whose projects to create nurseries with perennials and / or ornamental species, including Acacia have not received subsidies under Measure 112 “Setting up of young farmers” orthey have received subsidies and it was declared eligible by the SFA.
The decision is based on Regulation (EC) № 1535/2007 of 20 December 2007 of the Commission on the implementation of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid in the production of agricultural products, OB L 337, 21.12. 2007 /, Article 12, paragraph 1, item 2 and paragraph 2, item 1 b. "a" of the Law on support of agricultural producres. The reasons for granting of such support are related to the need for measures to promote employment among young people in agriculture sector.
"The aid is granted only to producers who, after appropriate checks of the Agriculture Fund, have shown to be perfect in implementing projects, but for different reasons at the time of application, they did not have documents issued by the Executive Agency for Plant Variety Testing, Approbation and Seed Control (EAPVTASC) for the respective production, as a result of which the projects submitted were rejected, "explained Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Svetlana Boyanova.
Sum amounting to EUR 7500 (BGN 14,669) will be granted if the following circumstances exist:
- the farmer has not used other de minimis aid, which to exceed the maximum amount provided per beneficiary over a period of three years - EUR 7,500 (BGN 14,669);
- with the provision of aid the maximum cumulative amount of de minimis aid for the country of 23,115,000 euros for the three fiscal years will not be exceeded.
Together with that, young farmers can take advantage of the opportunity to apply under Measure 141 “Supporting Semi-subsistance farms undergoing restructuring process” for granting financial assistance amounting to EUR 1,500 extra per year for a maximum period of five years . To facilitate young farmers in applying under Measure 141, National Advisory Services Fund will provide free support for the drafting of application and business plan.