On Tuesday, 28 April, the Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture to Cabinet Regulation No. 269 of 1 June 2023, “Procedures for Granting State and European Union Support under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development intervention ‘Support for Young Farmers for Starting a Business’.”
The most significant changes to the regulation include an increase in the amount of support. The support available for implementing a business plan has been raised from EUR 40,000 to EUR 60,000, providing young farmers with greater opportunities to establish and develop their farms. Going forward, the applicant’s total annual net turnover in the previous completed year must not exceed EUR 350,000, compared with the previous threshold of EUR 150,000. This will allow a larger number of young farmers to participate in the programme.
The submission of documents has also been significantly simplified for young farmers. To receive an advance payment, applicants will no longer be required to submit advance payment invoices or other documents confirming transactions. This will substantially reduce bureaucracy and speed up the process of receiving support.
The next round of project applications is planned for October 2026.
The aim of the amendments is to make access to support and its administration simpler, clearer and more efficient, taking into account the administrative burden identified during practical implementation for both applicants and the Rural Support Service. The requirements for submitting documents, the procedure for requesting advance payments and other obligations related to project implementation have been clarified.
The amendments to Regulation No. 269, “Procedures for Granting State and European Union Support under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development intervention ‘Support for Young Farmers for Starting a Business’,” will enter into force on the day following their publication in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.
