Subsidies were transferred to farmers’ accounts, who have engaged in natural agriculture for 5 years, under 4 directions in total – “Conservation of endangered local breeds”; “Organic beekeeping”, “Restoration and maintenance of grasslands with high natural value”, as well as “Traditional farming of fruit orchard”. The total number of approved applications is 90, as the exact amount of the subsidy is BGN 412 232.
Most candidates (more than 30) receive money for maintaining under grazed grasslands with high natural value. The aim of this direction is to protect plant and animal species, threatened with extinction due to conversion of their habitat to arable land. Beneficiaries will receive over BGN 240 000.
Another 30 applications, amounting in total to BGN 106 006, are under “Organic beekeeping” direction. Beekeeping in organic manner indirectly contributes to the conservation of soils, because with the natural pollination of fruit orchard species, yields increase without additional use of nitrate fertilizers.
Over BGN 14 000 will be paid to farmers committed to increase the number of rare and threatened with extinction animals of native breeds.
With the remaining funds of agro ecology will finance beneficiaries, who have applied under more than one of the four directions, as well as to farmers, engaged in cultivation of traditional farming of orchards
Subsidies for orchards amounted to BGN 13 549.