Towards November, the Young Farmers programme is being launched by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food , according to information from Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

The programme has a budget of EUR 420 million. euros. According to what has been approved by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Spilios Livanos and the competent Deputy Minister, George Stylios, all procedures will be done electronically, thus reducing the time. The amount of the deposit will reach 70% for the first time.

Young Farmers - Objectives

The objectives of the Young Farmers programme are, among others, the age renewal of the primary sector. Also the support of young candidates who do not face an opportunity to enter the agricultural sector.

According to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food the interest in this sub-measure Young Farmers is quite intense. The estimates speak of 30,000 dossiers being submitted. The aim is for the approvals in this year's call to be completed within the first half of 2022.

Already,as in the Government Gazette, all the conditions for the inclusion of interested parties in the call of sub-meure 6.1 "Installation of Young Farmers" have been prepublished.

"After a five-year wait, interested parties aged 18-41 who wish to engage professionally in the agricultural sector are invited to submit an Application for Support in the New Program, which ensures a privileged first installation through the doubling of the financial support, with an amount from 35,000 to 40,000 euros, depending on the direction of exploitation of the interested parties and their place of permanent residence", the Secretary General of Union Resources and Infrastructure, Dimitris Papagiannidis, told ANA-MPA.

The financial support to the beneficiaries will be paid in two instalments. The first will concern 70% of the total amount of support. It will be credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries immediately after the adoption of the integration decision. The second instalment will be paid within 5 years of joining. It will be conditional on the proper implementation of the business plan and the achievement of the relevant objectives and commitments.

Similarities and differences

There are several similarities and differences between the new program for young farmers and the previous Call.

"Among the main variations is the achievement of turnover from agricultural activity, based on tax data, at a rate of at least 50% of the standard entry yield to the measure," Mr. Papayannidis adding that "when applying for the final repayment, at least two tax returns must have been submitted, the most recent of which shows a turnover from agricultural activities at least equal to 60% of the standard exit yield from the measure".

Changes

Also, changes are foreseen regarding:

• The increase of the total production capacity of the agricultural holding by at least 20% compared to the initial situation.
• To be subject to the normal VAT scheme within 12 months of the decision of approval and to remain until the year of exit from the measure.
• The obligation to stay in the program for 7 years, which may be increased by 1 year depending on the year of achievement of the objectives (3 or 4 years).
• Maintaining the status of professional farmer until the year of completion of the program,
• The maintenance of the place of permanent residence, within the same Region.
• The entry capacity of the agricultural holding, expressed in terms of standard yield, which should be at least EUR 8 000 for apiculture facilities and from EUR 8 000 to EUR 12 000 depending on the place of residence and its population.

Young Farmers - Beneficiaries

Legal and natural persons (up to 41 years old) who have established themselves for the first time as heads of agricultural holdings during the eighteen months preceding the submission of the aid application and have submitted a declaration to the IACS for the year 2021 will have the right to join the Young Farmers program.

At the same time, they must be registered in the Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings as a newcomer professional farmer. They should have sufficient professional competence or acquire it within 36 months of joining.

Finally, they should submit a Business Plan, with a duration of three to four years with binding targets and long-term obligations.