2024-11-20 18:35:00
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The advisor of Agriculture CouncilMaría González Corral, stressed Wednesday that her department will assign 63 million euros over the next five years subsidize the interest on subsidized loans taken out by the owners of 9,808 agricultural businesses Community agricultural resources for 409.5 million euros, to deal with the damage caused by drought in the 2022-2023 campaign, declared exceptional by the Regional Council.
The beneficiary agricultural companies that requested these subsidized loans, between 6,000 and 60,000 euros, initially had until November 25th to request the repayment of the interest through the procedure provided for in the notice of subsidies available since last October 26th, even if it was finally expanded expires until December 5th. This requirement is formalized only this time for the five years of the loan.
González Corral signed an addendum to the agreements collaboration with which the Council maintains eleven financial entities (Abanca, BBVA, Santander, Caixabank, Caja Viva, Caja Rural de Salamanca, Caja Rural de Soria, Caja Rural de Zamora, Cajamar, Ibercaja and Unicaja) to update the management of aid financed with the regional government’s own funds.
The councilor underlined that this support allows 100% of the interest on loans requested by farmers and breeders to be subsidized. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development will finance the interest bonus for a period of five years, with a first year of voluntary grace and four years of constant amortization at a variable rate, up to a maximum equal to the value of the Euribor starting from September. 15, 2023 plus a differential of 0.5 percentage points.
“With this aid, the Junta de Castilla y León contributes to minimizing the economic impact due to the extreme weather conditions recorded in the 2022-23 campaign and provides liquidity to agricultural companies through access to financing on preferential conditions,” indicated González Corral .
This is the third appeal launched by the Junta de Castilla y León in recent years with the same purpose, after those of 2017, which involved an outlay of around eleven million euros and in which the State participated; and 2019, which had a budget of 14.5 million euros. “Him increase in the amount of this tendermore than double the sum of the previous two, and coming exclusively from the Autonomous Government’s own funds, as in the case of 2019, is the confirmation of the commitment of the Council and its president, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, with the agricultural sector of the Community” , indicated the councilor.
What are the key challenges farmers face in accessing government support for agricultural loans?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Agricultural Expert
Editor (E): Welcome to Time.news. Today, we’re diving into a pressing issue affecting our agricultural sector with expert María González Corral from the Agriculture Council. Thanks for joining us, María.
María González Corral (M): Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss such an important topic.
E: Just recently, your department announced a substantial 63 million euro initiative to support agricultural businesses. Could you elaborate on the rationale behind this funding?
M: Absolutely. The funds are primarily aimed at subsidizing the interest on loans taken out by nearly 10,000 agricultural businesses across our community. The exceptional drought during the 2022-2023 campaign has severely impacted our farmers. With the total damage assessed at 409.5 million euros, this initiative is crucial for helping our agricultural sector recover.
E: That’s considerable support. How do farmers access this assistance, and what are the specifics regarding the loans?
M: Farmers can request loans ranging from 6,000 to 60,000 euros. Initially, the deadline to apply for interest repayment was set for November 25th, but we’ve extended it to December 5th to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of this support. This is a one-time measure to cover interest for the duration of the five-year loan.
E: It’s encouraging to see flexibility in the application process. Speaking of applications, collaboration with financial entities seems essential for this programme. Can you tell us more about those partnerships?
M: Certainly! We have signed an addendum to our agreements with eleven financial institutions, including BBVA, Santander, and CaixaBank, among others. These partnerships are vital, as they facilitate the accessibility of loans for farmers. Each institution has shown commitment to supporting our agricultural sector and helping mitigate the financial pressures caused by the recent drought.
E: That’s a strong network of support. In your view, what challenges do you foresee in implementing this support programme effectively?
M: One of the main challenges is ensuring that all eligible farmers are informed and can navigate the application process smoothly. Additionally, we need to monitor the outcomes carefully to ensure that the aid actually helps in stabilizing their businesses and promoting resilience against future climate-related issues.
E: It sounds like responsiveness and communication will be key. Looking ahead, what measures are being considered to prevent such widespread damage from drought in the future?
M: We must invest in long-term strategies focused on sustainable agricultural practices. This includes promoting water conservation techniques, improving irrigation systems, and researching drought-resistant crops. Additionally, we are looking into better climate forecasting to help farmers prepare and adapt more proactively.
E: Those initiatives definitely sound like steps in the right direction. As we wrap up, what message do you want to convey to our agricultural community during this challenging time?
M: I want to reassure our farmers that they are not alone in this. The government is committed to supporting them through this difficult period. It’s crucial for us to work together, stay informed, and utilize the resources available to ensure not only recovery but also the future sustainability of our agricultural sector.
E: Thank you, María, for your insights and for shedding light on this important issue. We appreciate your efforts to support our agricultural community.
M: Thank you for having me. Let’s continue to advocate for the resilience and strength of our farmers.
E: And thank you to our readers for joining us on this important discussion. Stay tuned for more updates on agricultural policies and their impact on our communities.