Subsidizing agriculture in next 5 years: Greater competitiveness, climate resilience, added value and rural development

The Government has approved the Strategic Program for Agricultural Policy for 2026–2030, a document that sets out how subsidies will be granted to farmers and for the development of the agri-food sector over the next five years. The Program proposes a gradual increase in allocations for the sector, from 2.3 billion lei in 2026 to 5.3 billion lei in 2030, with a planned cumulative budget of 18.9 billion lei.

“This is a long-awaited program for farmers – we are moving from year-to-year planning to a clearer, more predictable and multiannual vision for the development of agriculture. Farmers need not only support, but also predictability. We want to back those investments that develop agriculture in the long term – modern farms, local processing, irrigation systems, efficient technologies and competitive rural businesses,” said Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Ludmila Catlabuga.

The new approach provides for a comprehensive evaluation of investment projects before funding is granted. In this way, financial support will be directed to those projects that contribute the most to achieving the objectives of agricultural and rural development policy and represent the best cost–performance ratio.

Financial support is organized into three categories of eligible interventions:

The first category refers to coupled direct payments. These are support schemes linked to the actual production or to livestock numbers in certain sectors. Support may be granted for the production of seeds for cereal, legume, oilseed, industrial, forage and vegetable crops, sugar beet, vegetables and potatoes grown in open field, vegetables grown in protected areas, cow, sheep and goat milk, for beef, sheep, pork, poultry and rabbit meat, young cattle, sheep and goats, as well as for equines, forage crops and grain legumes.

The second category includes sectoral interventions. These refer to areas where more targeted support is needed along the production and marketing chain. The Program includes measures for activities in vineyards, for increasing the competitiveness of wine-making units, planning production and adapting it to market demand, technologies adapted to climate change, the development of the beekeeping sector and integrating producers into quality schemes.

The third category concerns rural development. This includes investments in the modernization and establishment of crop farms, the construction or modernization of livestock farms, contributions to the payment of insurance premiums, support for access to agricultural loans, organic farming, investments in irrigation and climate resilience, processing, conditioning and storage of agri-food products, cooperation and innovation, support for young and new farmers, support for small farmers and family farms, infrastructure related to agricultural holdings, diversification of economic activities in rural areas, LEADER, knowledge transfer, agricultural advisory services and modernization of the technical and material base for research and vocational training.

Financial support will be granted through the National Fund for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas, approved annually through the State Budget Law, with the possibility of attracting funds provided by development partners.

A new element is the integration of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). Through this system, farmers will be able to receive practical support for more efficient management of their agricultural holdings. Advisory services will cover economic, technological, environmental and management aspects, including sustainable use of water and soil, proper application of plant protection products, nutrient management, adaptation to climate change and improving farm performance.

The Strategic Program for Agricultural Policy for 2026–2030 also establishes a monitoring system based on output, result and impact indicators. Each intervention will be analyzed annually, depending on the results obtained.

Between 2017 and 2025, the value of the National Fund for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas increased from 900 million lei to 1.9 billion lei, while the number of subsidy applications rose from 5,836 to 9,877. For 2026, the Subsidy Fund amounts to approximately 2.3 billion lei, of which about 628.8 million lei are related to the Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova.