The Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) is making payments for state aid in the livestock sector, requested through payment applications for services provided in June and the second quarter of 2023.

The authorized payment amount is 16,937,023.40 Romanian Lei and is provided from the state budget, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's budget, for applicants who have accessed this form of state aid.

The payment is made in accordance with the provisions of Government Decision no. 1179/2014 regarding the establishment of a state aid scheme in the livestock sector, with subsequent amendments and completions.

Concurrently, the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) informs that it has started issuing certificates for the beneficiaries of the state aid scheme regulated by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 61/2023 regarding the establishment of a state aid scheme in the livestock sector for the period from July 1st to December 31st, 2023. These certificates are intended for those who intend to access loans to finance their current activities from banking and non-banking institutions that have concluded agreements with APIA.

For the period from July 1st to December 31st, 2023, APIA has entered into agreements with banking and non-banking institutions, as well as with two guarantee funds, namely the Rural Credit Guarantee Fund IFN - SA (FGCR) and the National Credit Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises IFN - SA (FNGCIMM), to support farmers intending to access loans for their current activities.

According to the agreements, at the written request of the farmer, APIA issues a certificate confirming that they have submitted the initial application for state aid in the livestock sector for the period from July 1st to December 31st, 2023. The certificate confirms 85% of the determined aid value related to the initial application, and the loan amount will be up to 90% of the amount stated in the certificate due to the applicant.

The Rural Credit Guarantee Fund IFN - SA (FGCR) and the National Credit Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises IFN - SA (FNGCIMM) guarantee a maximum of 80% of the value of each loan granted by banks to farmers.

Farmers are reminded that the interest rate for granting loans will be RON-ROBOR 6M + a maximum of 2%, in accordance with the Order of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development no. 703/2013, with subsequent amendments and completions, which establishes the conditions for concluding agreements between financial and banking institutions and APIA for the financing by these institutions of the current activities of the beneficiaries based on the certificates issued.

Regarding the fees charged by financing institutions, APIA advises farmers who wish to access loans for working capital to carefully analyze the financing solutions proposed by financial and banking institutions and non-banking institutions in terms of their cost, so that they choose the financing methods that best meet their needs.

All agreements concluded between APIA, banking and non-banking institutions, and FGCR/FNGCIMM will be posted on the institution's website at www.apia.org.ro, in the Conventions, Agreements, Protocols section.