Laurentiu Baciu, head of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Romania, said the association wants subsidies of EUR220 per hectare. Ministry officials, however, proposed subsidies of EUR170 per hectare.
Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin said the additional amount of EUR100 million obtained by the ministry at the budget revision operated this summer allowed an increase in subsidies for farmers in 2013 up to the maximum value approved by the European Union. He added the subsidies per surface, which stood at EUR132/ hectare in 2011, will increase to EUR170/hectare, due to a higher contribution from the Romanian state. Also, cattle subsidies rose 20% to 500 lei (EUR110) per cattle in 2012, from RON416 in 2011.
Nevertheless, farmers said they are not pleased with the amounts proposed by ministry officials and asked for higher subsidies, threatening to stage protests unless their demands are met.
Constantin said the subsidies per surface will be granted starting December 1, but, he went on, 50% of the European financing will be granted in advance starting October 16, following a request approved by the European Commission. (EUR1=RON4.5331)