Government helps farmers and food producers
The government approved a number of measures to help farmers whose subsidies, direct payments, are delayed. It offers them interest-free loans of up to €100,000, or 70% of the direct payment, from the state-owned SZRB bank. The state will also provide a special €8m subsidy to fruit and vegetable farmers, €15m to cattle farms and is set to extend farmers' exemption from paying levies until the end of this year. Banks and leasing companies are expected to extend farmers' debts until the end of September. (teraz.sk, teraz.sk, teraz.sk)
PM Robert Fico says the government is preparing a measure to require state institutions to purchase Slovak food only. He expects a conflict with the European Commission in this case.
