Forty-three applications have been submitted so far within the framework of the IPARD-like project, offering grants for investments in agricultural households, but the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expects to see around 400 applications until the end of February when the public call will be closed.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Petar Ivanovic, says that the total value of the submitted applications is €1.3 million, out of which €575,000 would be covered by grants.
“I am positive that the number of submitted applications is just the beginning, i.e. ten percent of the total number of grant applications within the IPARD-like project,” Ivanovic said at a press conference.
In early December, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development invited Montenegrin farmers to apply for the grants aimed at supporting the agricultural householders within the framework of the EU-funded IPARD-like project, worth €4.1 million.
“The farmers who meet the conditions will sign the contracts, on the basis of which the project will be implemented,” said Ivanovic.
He explained that the money would not be granted in advance, adding that the farmers needed to complete their investments in order to receive a 50 percent refund.
The head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Mitja Drobnic, said that implementation of the IPARD-like project was an investment into the future.
According to him, the IPARD-like project will be a comprehensive test for Montenegro at all levels, both for its administration and farmers.
He said that the main goal is to enable Montenegro to completely implement the IPARD programme, focusing on rural development.
The purpose of the IPARD-like project is to provide grants to the agricultural households helping them introduce and implement rural development measures, improve their competitiveness in the market of agricultural products, and introduce and strengthen European standards in food production.
The investments to be supported under this IPARD-like call include construction, reconstruction and adaptation of stables, barns and mechanization with the supporting equipment, construction of different forms of protected areas, construction and reconstruction of the storage facilities for fruit, vegetable and crops, access roads, procurement and installation of photovoltaic systems of generation of electricity, procurement and installation of solar systems, procurement of new agricultural mechanization and breeding stock.
Mina-business News Agency
