Representative farmers from the sheep and goat sector participated in a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin Ionuț BARBU, at the institution's headquarters. The meeting was organized to present the support measures for the year 2024 and to identify solutions to the challenges faced by this sector.

The Minister requested participants to present the difficulties they encounter for analysis by the relevant departments within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR).

Thematic working groups will be created within the ministry for different animal species to finalize the legislative framework for granting agricultural subsidies in 2024 by March, in accordance with existing legislation. This is aimed at supporting farmers in accessing available funds.

In the opening remarks, Minister Florin Barbu stated that the zootechnical sector is one of the main drivers of agriculture, emphasizing that animal husbandry provides the raw material needed for processing and contributes to the development of this segment.

The MADR official also conveyed to sheep breeders that, due to the generous budget allocated this year for agriculture, farmers in the zootechnical sector will continue to benefit from subsidies and funding lines in the National Rural Development Program (PNS) dedicated to farm modernization.

Topics of discussion included the available funds for 2024 for the sheep and goat sector, damages caused by wild animals to sheep and goat breeders, the possibility of granting a subsidy for sheep shearing, conditions for providing coupled support and national transitional aid in the zootechnical sector, and issues related to Official Control of Production (COP), among others.

The issue was raised that not all farmers are affiliated with organizations, and concerns were expressed about the current leasing process for pastures. In response, the Minister explained that software is being prepared so that in the future, pasture leasing by municipalities will be based on the animal load per hectare to avoid issues with fragmented leasing.

The Minister assured them that they will have all the necessary funds, starting from the amounts provided in the PNS for investment projects (equipment acquisition, young farmers, etc.), support for fuel excise, national transitional aid, and coupled support in the zootechnical sector.

Additionally, the Minister explained that new credit instruments - Farmer's Credit and Agricultural Credit - will be available by the end of January 2024. Minister Barbu also expressed willingness to address the issue of damages caused by wild animals, together with representatives from the Ministry of Environment, which is a significant problem causing substantial losses to livestock farmers.

In conclusion, representatives of sheep and goat breeders' associations expressed satisfaction with the measures proposed by the Minister, the budget allocated to the sheep sector, and the support measures for this segment. They also highlighted that the issue of wool collection, one of the significant challenges faced by this category of farmers, has already been addressed. It's worth mentioning that a wool processing factory is set to be inaugurated in Făgețelu, Olt County, through a state aid scheme for investments in the processing industry.