Nearly €1,396 bn, or 42,57% of the grants under OP Rural Development have been negotiated and are to be transferred by September 19, 2011. So far, according to the budget for 2011 amounting to more than €398 mln, contracts for over € 330 mln have been signed. The remaining €98 mln must be negotiated by the end of the year, informed Vanya Blagoeva from State Fund Agriculture.

Out of a total of 10,963 grant applications filed in 2009, 63 ones remain to be processed, stated also Blagoeva. Out of a total of 2,688 applications lodged in 2010, 634 projects must be handled.

Under measure 121 "Modernisation of Agricultural Holdings", €170,209,625.66 have been transferred. A new grant procedure is expected to be launched until the end of the year. It will be targeted at the fruits and vegetables sector, as well as at farmers who bid for grants.