In the Government Meeting, a Decision has been adopted to approve the Support Program for vegetable production in protected spaces for the period 2023 - 2024 and to amend Article 8 of Government Decision No. 1569/2022 approving the support program for tomato production in protected spaces for the year 2023.

The program stipulates that vegetable growers who establish crops of tomatoes, bell peppers and/or long peppers, cucumbers, runner beans, lettuce, spinach, and green onions in protected spaces covering an area of 1,000 square meters and meet the conditions provided by the regulatory act will benefit from a maximum de minimis aid of 1,000 euros per 1,000 square meters per beneficiary.

"Today's approved Decision also includes an increase in the budget for tomatoes in cycle 1, by approximately 65 million lei, in order to cover all payment requests submitted by farmers for tomato production in cycle 1.

So, the budget increases from 262.3 million lei to 327.9 million lei. We also have a record number of beneficiaries enrolled in the program this year - 22,088.

Through the adopted regulatory act, eligible beneficiaries will receive support of 3,000 euros for 1,000 square meters cultivated with tomatoes in protected spaces.

Furthermore, with this regulatory act, we ensure funding for farmers who will enroll in the program for the period 2023 - 2024 and will receive 1,000 euros per 1,000 square meters cultivated with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, runner beans, lettuce, spinach, or green onions," said Minister Florin Barbu.

Applications for the period 2023 - 2024 will be submitted within 20 days from the publication of the Government Decision in the Official Gazette. The utilization of the production will take place from October 20, 2023, to January 31, 2024, and payments will be made after February 26, 2024.