EUR 1.8 billion fund to help increase production on medium and large farms

The Sectoral Operational Program (SPO) begins operating today. Under the program farmers may expect to get as much as EUR 1.8 billion from the EU funds and the state budget. During the next three years EUR 604 million will be allocated for the investments in farms. Each farmer may receive as much as zł.300 000 during that period which is five times more than it was possible under the SAPARD program. "New funds are designed for the owners of middle size and large farms. They are aimed to improve their competitiveness and increase their production potential. We expect to get around 25-thousand applications," said Stanisław Kowalczyk, a deputy agriculture minister. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) E.B.