OREANDA-NEWS. May 16, 2011. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Stefan Chitoroaga said the funds would be used to encourage crediting of agricultural producers by commercial banks, micro-financing organizations and lending-saving associations, to encourage insurance of risks in agriculture, to boost investment for plant perennial plantations, to foster investment in purchasing new agricultural machines and equipment, irrigation and antihail systems.

The Fund’s money is also intended for promoting and developing ecological agriculture, encouraging investment in technological re-equipment of stock-raising farms, fostering investment in development of production processing and packaging infrastructure and others. Stefan Chitoroaga said the gratuitous state financial assistance aims to raise productiveness and competitiveness of agriculture, to ensure the country’s food security by supporting home agrarians and reducing food import volumes.

In 2010, the amount of the Agricultural Producers Financing Fund totaled 400 million leis. The Ministry of Agriculture hopes that the amount of the Fund will be increased during the revision of the Law on 2011 state budget. Earlier, the Prime Minister Vladimir Filat supported improvement of the funding system in agriculture, helping only efficient economic agents.