Direct subsidies to small farmers possible

Small commercial farmers may receive direct subsidies from the EU. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is sending an application to Brussels regarding this project. The new subsidy system will reward effective and productive farmers. National Council of Agricultural Chambers president Wiktor Szmulewicz supports the initiative. "The support is aimed at different sectors of the agricultural market. Also, it rewards farmsteads which are not strictly concerned with producing for own needs," said Szmulewicz, according to an IAR release. Szmulewicz pushed for a wider scope of farmsteads to be included in the project. After community consultations, the original plan of including farms with up to 50 cows, goats, or sheep fell through and the limit rests at 30 pieces of livestock. The new subsidies will be available for the years 2015-2020.