Liquidity loans for farmers have been launched July 13.
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"Today, liquidity loans for agricultural producers were launched. Currently, subsidies from the state budget can be applied to these loans for a period depending on the size of the farm, i.e. for 36, 48 and 60 months," informed minister Robert Telus.
Farmers can apply for them in banks cooperating with ARMA.
These are: Bank Spółdzielczy w Brodnica, Bank Polskiej Spółdzielczości, SGB-Bank, BNP Paribas Bank Polska, BNP Paribas Bank Polska, Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy, Santander Bank Polska, Credit Agricole Bank Polska.
"At the same time, I am waiting for the consent of the EC, which will allow the use of subsidies for the interest rate on all liquidity loans, regardless of the size of the farm, up to 60 months," informed the minister.
At the moment, the credit limit is PLN 2.7 billion ($685m), it will be increased to PLN 10 billion ($2.5b) if necessary.
"We monitor the situation on the soft fruit market on an ongoing basis and maintain a dialogue with their producers and processors," emphasized Telus.
June 30 and July 6 this year. meetings of representatives of raspberry growers and purchasing companies were held at the Ministry's headquarters.
During the second meeting, the industry was informed that on July 5, raspberries were purchased in the Lubelskie Voivodeship by two companies that started cooperation with a company with the share of the State Treasury, offering prices at PLN 5.8 per kg.
"I decided that inspections controlled and supervised by the ministry will monitor the raspberry purchase market to exclude price collusion. Our company maintains prices at PLN 5.5, and according to my information, the purchase price in the state-owned company will increase," the minister said.
"We also have information that the companies that lowered their prices so much have already matched the price offered by the companies purchasing on behalf of the state-owned company."
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture also informed about the planned new aid in the form of subsidies to interest rates on bank loans.
"Any company that buys soft fruit from a Polish farmer or conducts business in the field of freezing these fruits will be able to receive a low-interest loan of up to PLN 40 million for 18 months with a state subsidy," said Telus.
The loans will be intended for small and medium-sized enterprises and are intended to ensure financial liquidity for purchasing companies in the new season.
Such national aid requires approval by the European Commission.
Raspberry producers can also benefit from a range of systemic measures already available.
Among other things, from the support provided to organizations of fruit and vegetable producers, whose task is to stabilize prices on fruit and vegetable markets and strengthen the market position of producers.
These entities may receive aid to finance crisis management activities, i.e. withdrawal of fruit and vegetables from the market.
Financial support for producer organizations for the implementation of operational programs may range from 4.1 to 4.6 percent. the value of the production marketed by the producer organisation.
The farmer will have to submit an application for an assessment of drought damage, as has been the case since 2020, via the "Report agricultural damage" application.
The application will be relaunched around July 20.
"The application is currently being improved and will launch again around July 20. Answering the questions of farmers, I inform you that it does not matter if they have already harvested grain," said the minister.
"When it comes to application, you can also assess the damage after harvest. Our goal is to develop such an application that would be functional and allow for objective estimation of losses."
However, if a farmer injured as a result of drought would like the committee to assess the damage, then he should report it, as in the case of other adverse weather phenomena, within a time limit that allows for their estimation.
"If the difference between the estimates of the application and the committee is not greater than 25%, we will pay a higher amount of compensation," informed the minister. ■