Background information

The Scheme is issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment based on the decision of the Cabinet on 11 December 2020 and within the temporary frame for state aid for the support of the economy due to the pandemic COVID-19. It addresses Co-operative Companies and Organized Groups of Producers in the agriculture sector and is implemented by the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry.

Content of measure

The Scheme aims to financially support the eligible companies and groups of producers in order to continue their operation and support the interest of their members but ensure the continuous supply of the food chain with products in fair prices for producers and consumers, at the same time.

Eligible companies are Co-operative Companies and Organized Groups of Producers in the agriculture sector that provide the market with large amounts of goods, located in remote areas and/or in distance from urban and market centers and endure an increase in their operative costs and/or damage from the measures imposed in the country for the limiting of the pandemic.

The Scheme names the eight companies/groups that are eligible to participate in the scheme.
The financial support is calculated based on the degree that the applicant group is affected by the measures with the maximum support to be €100,000.

Use of measure

The available amount for the support of the Scheme is €560,000. The number of groups eligible to participate is eight and are named in the Scheme and the maximum financial support that each group can be benefited is €100,000.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment hold different informed meetings with the Agricultural Organisations since the beginning of the pandemic on different issues concerning the support of farmers and agricultural businesses. However, the level of involvement of these organizations in the designing of the particular Scheme is not known.

Views and reactions

Despite that no particular reactions have been appeared in the press in regards to this Scheme, the agricultural organizations view all supportive measures implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment very positively and necessary ensuring the survival of farmers and the agricultural sector.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 20 December 2020: Σχέδιο στήριξης οργανωμένων συνόλων ή/και οργανώσεων παραγωγών του γεωργικού τομέα λόγω των επιπτώσεων από τα περιοριστικά μέτρα που εφαρμόστηκαν λόγω της πανδημίας COVID-19 (www.moa.gov.cy)