Harghita farmers apply for potato cultivation aid

More than 400 farmers in Harghita County, Romania, have applied for de minimis aid for potato cultivation, covering a total area of approximately 1,300 hectares. The support provides a maximum of 300 euros per hectare.

Romfeld Zsolt, head of the Harghita County Agriculture Directorate, stated that the application period has closed. Authorities are now preparing to verify the crops in the field. Crucially, inspections must be conducted and georeferenced photographs taken before harvesting to ensure the existence and area of the crops; failure to do so will result in the denial of aid.

To be eligible, producers must cultivate at least 0.3 hectares and achieve a minimum production of 12 tons per hectare. There is also a cap of 50,000 euros per producer over a three-year period. While the aid is considered a welcome stimulus given current economic conditions, officials noted that the amount remains low relative to the actual costs of establishing and maintaining potato crops.