State Fund "Agriculture" has signed contracts with 405 potato producers who will be supported with targeted subsidies for purchase of seed potatoes for seed and consumption during the 2011 harvest. The total amount of the support is more than BGN 1,509,800, with an approved budget of BGN 1,552,900. The deadline for the subsidy payment is July 22, 2011
Most subsidies - 143 in number, amounting to BGN 683 778 have been agreed in Sofia District; 50 contracts for BGN 279,803 have been signed in Pernik District; 46 contracts for BGN 130 515 in Blagoevgrad District and 29 contracts for BGN 122,068 in Kyustendil.
Producers of seed potatoes will receive a subsidy of BGN 91.40 per decare, while for human consumption has been approved a subsidy of BGN 52.00 per decare.
The maximum area, for which a farmer may sign a contract with the State Fund "Agriculture" to buy seeds for seed production amounts to 80 decares and the minimum - 5 decares. For the cultivation of potatoes for consumption an area from 5 to 150 decares will be financed.
With the financial resource line, the state will support the planting of a total of 22,047 decares with potatoes for consumption and 3,976 decares for seed production. Interest in the scheme this year has increased, according to data. For comparison, in 2010 a total of 365 farmers received subsidies under the scheme and they planted 17,005 decares of potatoes for consumption and 2,991 decares of potatoes for seed production