Background information

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the market disruptions caused by it, the financial situation of many enterprises in primary production has deteriorated. For instance, specialised farms, reindeer farms and horticultural farms are seeing significantly decreased sales as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

In order to support these enterprises, a temporary subsidy for primary production was created. The legal basis for this subsidy is the Government Decree 370/2020 on temporary support for enterprises in primary agricultural production (Valtioneuvoston asetus maatalouden alkutuotannon yritysten väliaikaisesta tuesta 370/2020).

Content of measure

This grant is available for companies operating in the primary production sector. Companies that have been directly negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis can apply for this grant.

The grant covers up to 80% of the essential expenses such as wage costs and rent. The grant covers up to six months of necessary expenses and it can be applied retroactively from March 2020. The amount is between €2,000 and €80,000.

The grant is administrated by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. No information available regarding the total budget.

There are separate grant schemes for fisheries and rural enterprises.

Use of measure

As of 23 August 2020, in total 483 enterprises had been given this grant. The total amount of granted was approximately €4,5 million.

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	National funds

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information available.

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 14 May 2020: Government Decree temporary support for primary agricultural enterprises (Valtioneuvoston asetus maatalouden alkutuotannon yritysten väliaikaisesta tuesta) (finlex.fi)
• 18 May 2020: Temporary support for primary production in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic (Alkutuotannon väliaikainen tuki koronaviruspandemiasta johtuviin talousvaikeuksiin) (www.ruokavirasto.fi)
• 23 August 2020: Temporary support for agricultural enterprises 2020 - applications, granted applications and rejections by ELY-center as of 23.8.2020 (Maaseudun yritysten ja alkutuotannon väliaikainen tuki 2020 Hakemukset, päätökset ja hylkäykset ELY-keskuksittain) 23.8.2020 mennessä (www.ruokavirasto.fi)