The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has revised the mechanisms for granting funds to representatives of the agricultural sector, particularly those working in the fields of horticulture, berry farming, viticulture, greenhouse farming, as well as for projects related to the construction of vegetable and fruit storage facilities.
This is reported by Finway
“The main goal of the changes is to make business support more targeted and transparent, as well as to fully synchronize grant programs with EU rules within the framework of the Ukraine Facility initiative.”
Tighter requirements and new control
The updated rules pay special attention to increasing transparency and control over recipients of financial assistance. In particular, a strict ban has now been introduced on granting funds to companies and individuals who are under European sanctions. Each applicant must undergo verification according to the requirements of the Framework Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
Agricultural producers who receive a grant are required to indicate the source of funding, using the EU emblem and the special marking “funded by the European Union – Ukraine Facility”. In addition, mandatory expertise of project budgets and additional control over the actual cost of equipment and materials have been introduced.
Grants for storage facilities: categorization and conditions for obtaining
A significant innovation has been the introduction of categorization for the capacity of vegetable and fruit storage facilities. Grants will now be provided exclusively for new construction on land plots, and the maximum amount of financial assistance and requirements for job creation depend on the capacity of the future facility:
- 500 tons and more: a grant of up to 4 million UAH provided that at least 6 permanent jobs are created;
- 1,500 tons and more: a grant of up to 7 million UAH if there are at least 8 jobs;
- 3,000 tons and more: a grant of up to 10 million UAH if at least 12 jobs are created;
- 6,000 tons and more: a grant of up to 20 million UAH provided that at least 16 jobs are created.
In addition, the list of regions in Ukraine officially recognized as suitable for almond cultivation has been expanded. This opens up additional opportunities for gardeners and stimulates the development of new directions in the agricultural sector.