The Bulgarian State Agricultural Fund (SFA) paid BGN 450 157 979 (approximately 255 944 071 US dollars) to 58 072 farmers under the payment scheme for agricultural practices that are beneficial to the climate and the environment, also known as “green direct payments”, - This was announced on Thursday April 25 by the country's Agricultural Fund in a press release.
Green Direct Payments are intended to reward farmers who use farming methods that are beneficial to soil quality, carbon sequestration and biodiversity.
“Green direct payments” were introduced in 2015 as a means of improving environmental and climate indicators in the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union.
To be eligible to receive such payments, farmers must follow climate and environmentally friendly methods in all their farms.
However, for farmers engaged in cultivation of perennial crops, there are slightly different conditions for receiving “green direct payments” - such farmers receive payments depending on their sown area for perennial crops.
The amount established by order of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of Bulgaria is 122.84 leva per hectare of sown area.
