Sardinia agricultural grants spark political dispute

A political dispute has emerged in Sardinia regarding a new call for applications aimed at supporting young farmers. The initiative is intended to revitalize the agricultural sector and combat depopulation in rural areas.

The opposition, led by regional councilor Gianluigi Rubiu of Fratelli d'Italia, has criticized the strictness of the access requirements. Specifically, the program mandates absolute exclusivity in agricultural activity for a period of five years. Critics argue this clause may discourage potential applicants who rely on small, complementary family activities for economic survival during their initial stages.

Regional Agriculture Councilor Francesco Agus defended the measures, noting that the current European PAC (Common Agricultural Policy) funding frameworks are based on programming established during the 2022-2023 period.