Snow affected farmers could receive compensation

Agriculture ministry promised to give from the state budget, producers of vegetable greenhouses and solariums which have been affected by heavy snowfall in winter, sum payments worth almost 2 million euros.

They could benefit of financial support this year up to 7,500 Euros per person (33,000 lei) to limit the damage caused by snow this winter, according to a draft proposed by the government.

The document, found in the endorsement process urgently, allocates compensatory amounts by granting minimum aid to offset the damage to the roofing materials of agricultural land protected.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, at the level of coating materials for greenhouses and conservatories, were recorded over one million square meters of broken glass and over two million square meters of broken plastic sheeting for greenhouses.

The deadline for submitting applications for financial support to the county agricultural departments is 29 June 2012, after which payments will be made to beneficiaries.
In early March, greenhouses representatives said that vegetable prices could double from March due to bad weather, which affected production.

According to farmers, heavy snowfall in February does not resolve persistent drought in Romania, from early last summer.

For example, in Salaj, all cereal crops are compromised, and farmers are trying to find solutions to remove the effects of drought.

Translated by Ioana Vioreanu
MTTLC, Bucharest University