Drought aid – extension of application deadline to October 30, 2023.

The Council of Ministers has decided to extend the deadline for submitting applications for financial support for farmers. The reason is the information coming from representatives of local administrations about delays in the preparation of protocols. As a result, drought aid will still be available until the end of October. The change is intended to allow all farmers who have problems with the preparation of the damage estimation protocol generated in the public application to submit an application.

Drought aid – by when are applications and reports due?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that the Council of Ministers on October 11. Adopted an amendment to the regulations for submitting damage assessment documents. Accordingly, applications can still be sent via the “Report Agricultural Damage” application until October 30, 2023.

The change also applies to the committees appointed to assess the damage. They, too, have until the end of October to enter reports of their activities with affected farmers into the app. What documents must a producer prepare in order to be eligible for drought aid?

Instructions for submitting applications in the drought application

A special public application allows everyone eligible for drought aid to quickly apply. To use it, you need to have a trusted profile set up and prepare the following data:

• identification number, assigned in accordance with the provisions of the national system of producer records, farm records and records of applications for payment;
• scan of the insurance policy – at least 50 percent. areas cultivated in the main crop, excluding perennial grassland – from the risk of drought, hail, torrential rain, negative effects of overwintering, spring frost, flood or hurricane, according to the regulations on insurance of agricultural crops and farm animals, if the producer wants to take advantage of the form of aid in full amounts;
• optionally – photographic documentation of damage, caused by the occurrence of drought, confirming its extent.

Once the application for drought aid is sent out, it is no longer possible to make changes to it or add more damage that will occur later this year. If so, is drought aid all the support farmers can count on now?

Additional planned forms of support for farmers

On October 11, the Council of Ministers also adopted a draft regulation on additional forms of support available to farmers. It is provided for distilleries and producers:

• fruit trees and shrubs,
• strawberries,
• cauliflower,
• broccoli,
• raspberries.

Aid for fruit producers

The aid will be aimed at farms or special agricultural production divisions where the crops of fruit-bearing fruit trees and bushes or strawberries have been affected. There are two conditions that must be met to receive support. The first is the cause of the damage – the occurrence of spring frost, hail or hurricane – according to crop and livestock insurance regulations. The second is the percentage of damaged crop area in the total area the farmer has (30-70 percent).

The aid is decided by the head of the district office of the Agency for the Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture (ARMA), appropriate to the producer’s place of residence or headquarters. To apply for financial support, send an application by October 30, 2023. The necessary form has been made available on the agency’s website.

Support for cauliflower or broccoli producers

This form of aid will be launched for producers who have been refused to take delivery of the total quantity of cauliflower or broccoli, as specified in the previously signed contract. The condition is to have a contract to produce and deliver specific vegetables in 2023. to a certain entity, which ultimately did not accept them and did not pay the amount due for them.

Financial support amounts to PLN 1,250 per hectare of cauliflower or broccoli field area and will be granted after a positive decision by the EU Commission. Here, too, a prior decision is needed from the head of the ARMA district office with jurisdiction over the producer’s place of residence or headquarters. Applications must be submitted by October 30, 2023. The form can be found on the website of the relevant agency.

Aid for raspberry producers and extension of buying credits

The Council of Ministers has received for consideration draft legislation to provide aid to raspberry producers. The rate is to vary depending on whether this is the first application for aid this year or a subsequent one. It will amount to:

1. PLN 1,250 per hectare of raspberry area, which in 2023. suffered from spring frost, hurricane or hail; for which the raspberry producer has applied for the aid referred to in paragraph13 zzh of the amended Regulation;
2. PLN 2,500 per hectare of raspberry area, other than those referred to in item 1.

The aid will be granted after a positive decision by the EU Commission and will most likely cover the first 10 hectares of cultivated area. Another form of assistance is a purchase credit. It was decided to include distilleries. It can be obtained within an extended period until the end of 2023. Here, too, it is necessary to obtain a positive decision from the EU Commission.

Both drought aid and other forms of support for farmers are described on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.