EUR 60 million available for irrigation investments says agriculture ministry

Romanian farmers who want to access EU funds for the modernization of irrigation systems can apply this September for a new funding session for which EUR 60 million has been allocated, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) announced today.

Modernizing Romania’s entire irrigations infrastructure is vital and could turn the local agriculture into the economy’s growth engine said the Daniel Constantin, the ministry of agriculture .

The total funds available amount to EUR 60 million, 80 percent of which are EU funds, and will be available under Measure 125 – infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture. Farmers can apply between September 3 and October 15 for investment projects related to modernizing the irrigations’ infrastructure. MADR has come up with the money by relocating financial resources within the National Rural Development Program, the ministry says.

The government’s initiative to allocate additional money for EU-funded investments in modernizing the irrigations’ infrastructure comes after the drought has ravaged some 40 percent of Romania’s farmland this summer, causing local farmers double digit losses for most crops. The drought is estimated to have reduced so far corn production by about 20 percent from the 11.6 million ton record level reported in 2011 while the wheat output will be at least 15 percent below last year’ 7.1 million tons harvest.

The government has previously announced a set of measures meant to support drought-stricken farmers which includes lower prices for the water used to irrigate and financial support for those who have reported losses.