Almost 180,000 Romanian farmers have received over EUR 106 million in funding for the continuation of their agricultural activities, including EUR 88.7 million coming from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the Rural Investment Financing Agency (AFIR) reported on Wednesday.

„Between October 28 and November 4, 2024, the Rural Investment Financing Agency (…) worked around the clock to provide Romanian farmers with much-needed funding for the continuation of their agricultural activities. In an unprecedented effort, AFIR teams worked 24 hours a day, making a record number of payments. Thus, AFIR made payments totalling EUR 106.6 million to 179,966 farmers,” according to AFIR

Out of the total amount paid, EUR 88.7 million is the contribution of the European Commission (EC) through the EAFRD, and EUR 17.9 million are provided from the national budget.

„We have proved that it is essential to act quickly and efficiently so that the funds reach our beneficiaries promptly. AFIR employees worked tirelessly, day and night, for a whole week, mobilising all resources to ensure the advance of IACS payments for coupled income support. In order to make payments of over EUR 106 million, 359,662 payment certificates were issued in an accelerated manner, as against a usual 10,000 certificates. This effort has allowed farmers to receive the crucial support they need in this critical period for the autumn agricultural works (…),” AFIR Director General Dan-Florin Scarlat is quoted as saying in an AFIR press statement.

AGERPRES