Payments of over 1.3 billion lei (approximately 256 million euros) were made to beneficiaries in agriculture and rural areas in the first three months of this year through the mechanisms managed by the Managing Authority for the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and implemented by the Rural Investments Financing Agency (AFIR).
"This result reflects the integrated functioning of the European funds management system, in which the Managing Authority for the Strategic Plan ensures the strategic framework and monitoring of interventions, while AFIR implements investment projects and payment flows to beneficiaries at an operational level," the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) reports in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday.
The funds transferred in the first quarter of the year support the development of agricultural holdings, the expansion of processing capacities, the modernisation of basic rural infrastructure, as well as local projects financed through LEADER. At the same time, an important component targeted compensation for income losses for farmers involved in environmental and climate commitments.
"The results from the first quarter reflect the sustained efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the Managing Authority for the CAP Strategic Plan and AFIR, to attract and use European funds efficiently. We have focused on accelerating payment flows and supporting beneficiaries so that each funded project is translated into concrete investments in agriculture and the rural economy," said Minister Florin Ionut Barbu, as quoted in the press release.
Of the total amounts paid, approximately 207 million euros represent the contribution of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), while around 36.4 million euros come from the state budget, highlighting the strong partnership between European and national funding in implementing agricultural policies.
At sector level, more than 150 million euros were directed to farmers applying environmental and climate practices, while investments in fruit growing, livestock farming, agri-food processing, rural infrastructure and irrigation systems benefited from funding of nearly 93 million euros.
In addition, through complementary instruments managed in coordination with MADR, payments of over 12.7 million euros were made from the Modernisation Fund for investments in renewable energy for self-consumption in the agricultural sector and the food industry.
MADR underlines that this pace of payments is the result of efficient institutional coordination between management and implementation structures, ensuring both compliance with European procedures and rapid access to funding for beneficiaries.
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