The Public Association “Farmers’ Force” requests the Government to increase the subsidy fund or to prioritize the payment of subsidies for micro, small and medium-sized farmers. The association is worried that a large part of farmers will be left without subsidies for applications submitted in 2023 as a large part of the subsidies were disbursed and what remains is not enough to cover the total amount for applications for post-investment subsidies, IPN reports.
According to the 2024 budget, 1.6 billion lei was earmarked for the subsidization fund and data published by the Agency for Investment and Payments in Agriculture show that 68.44% of the money was disbursed by June 3 and the remaining difference, of 470 million lei, does not cover the amount for applications submitted for post-investment subsidies. The deficit is of at least 230 million lei, said the “Farmers’ Force”.
According to the association, without increasing the budget, the subsidization system and the agricultural system can collapse. Micro, small and medium-sized farmers are on the verge of bankruptcy due to the events of the recent years (drought, war, inflation, rising capital prices, etc.) and are waiting for subsidies as a lifeline for their investments.
