Frost and harvest losses - Minister: Aid for fruit and wine growers coming
Agriculture Minister Sven Schulze has promised financial aid of up to five million euros to fruit and wine growers facing significant yield losses. Speaking in Magdeburg, the CDU minister said the aid was crucial for the survival of businesses that had suffered crop losses due to the severe frost at the end of April. Schulze announced that the aid would be paid out this year, with the funds coming solely from his ministry's budget.
According to the reports, fruit farming has been affected with an average damage of about 80%. Similarly, wine production is expected to face yield losses of around 70%.
Help with loans and direct payments
Schulze and his ministry plan to provide assistance in two ways: firstly, there will be grants for companies that need to take out loans due to their financial difficulties after the frost damage. These companies could receive a 20% grant on loan amounts of up to 7,000 euros per hectare of damaged crop. This applies to both fruit and wine farming operations.
Additionally, fruit farming operations could receive a further 20% grant as direct financial support for their losses, said Schulze. The minister emphasized that the aid is not intended to compensate for lost profits, but rather to provide liquidity support to ensure the survival of the businesses. Schulze also stressed that apples from Saxony-Anhalt are important to him in the future.
The CDU minister, Sven Schulze, has been a strong advocate for the fruit and wine-growing industry, providing financial aid to businesses affected by yield losses. The CDU, through Schulze, plans to offer grants to these companies to help cover loan costs associated with the frost damage.
