No. Of Farming Projects In Need Of Co-Funding Up 50% In ’09 – Romania Agric Min Official

„The economic crisis did not affect the submission of projects via the National Rural Development Program (PNDR) in 2009, but the number of projects lacking co-financing was up 30-50%,” Harbuz said Tuesday within the conference „Mediafax Talks about Romanian Agriculture”.

He stressed there are many worthwhile projects, adding, however, that applicants cannot ensure co-funding.

Asked whether it would be wise to set up a farming bank meant to help farmers obtain funds to further co-finance their projects, Harbuz stressed that, in times of economic crisis, it would not be so wise to set up new banks, but rather a guarantee fund.

Harbuz also pointed out that Romania’s fragmentary agriculture would see improvements until 2013.

The funds granted by the European Union to Romania during 2007-2013, via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), in order to implement the National Rural Development Program (PNDR), amount to nearly EUR8 billion, plus state budget funds worth EUR1.948 billion.

According to data from the Agriculture Ministry, nearly 3,000 projects worth some EUR1.6 billion, were contracted via PNDR 2007-2013, of almost 9,500 projects shortlisted for further funding, worth over EUR1.8 billion.

The number of compliant projects countrywide amounts to 15,010, worth over EUR9 billion.