Moldova is preparing to receive pre-accession funds from the European Union, which could be used for per-hectare payments to farmers - the Ministry of Agriculture
This was announced by Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Ludmila Catlabuga, who presented a package of measures and financial strategies aimed at supporting the agricultural sector in the context of European integration and current climate challenges. The Minister emphasized that the ministry's priority is not only managing current funding but also actively preparing for the use of pre-accession funds from the European Union. To this end, the Ministry of Agriculture is working on accrediting teams and implementing key information systems, such as the Land Registry and other relevant registries. "The pre-accession funding we are seeking can be confidently used for direct per-hectare payments. We are preparing to participate in the European Commission's multiannual budget exercise, where we will request these resources," stated Catlabuga. Regarding direct payments per hectare, she clarified that mechanisms are being tested for specific crops to establish a clear process for monitoring and on-site verification of 1.4 million hectares eligible for support, taking into account the necessary human resources for these verifications. The Minister of Agriculture also noted that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the State Tax Service, work is underway to reduce the processing time for VAT refund applications to 15-20 days. The goal is to reimburse 200 million lei allocated to agricultural producers through debureaucratic mechanisms. An amendment is being prepared within the FCA (Agricultural Credit Fund) program that will allow for the financing of working capital, not just investments, at a competitive interest rate of approximately 5.1%, thus ensuring the necessary cash flow for seasonal activities. The government also maintains its commitment to allocate over 100 million lei to cover excise taxes on diesel fuel and other urgent needs, although this amount will be revised during the budget adjustment. Ludmila Catlabuga acknowledged the presence of signs of rising prices for agricultural products, noting that a structured analysis is currently underway in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization. In light of unfavorable weather forecasts for the second and third ten-day periods of April, when the risk of frost is highest for the horticultural sector, which is in the flowering phase, the Minister of Agriculture urged farmers to use frost prevention tools, noting that the authorities, through AIPA, ADMA, and ODA, have provided subsidy programs specifically designed for these technologies. "It is crucial that farmers utilize these mechanisms to minimize risks during such a vulnerable period," Ludmila Catlabuga emphasized. // 08.04.2026 – InfoMarket.
