Grant schemes for agri-food sector

The FOI, through the Malta office of the Malta Business Bureau, organised an information meeting on the grant schemes for agri-food enterprises recently released for private sector operators under the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Funds (EAGGF). This information seminar, which aimed at informing the business community of the funding opportunities that exist for agri-food enterprises and ancillary services in the agri-food sector, was held on September 23 at the Exchange Buildings in Valletta.

The seminar focused on the available grant schemes for improving the processing and marketing of local agricultural goods. These grant schemes are of horizontal interest for the manufacturing end of the agri-food sector, processors of local agricultural goods, farming businesses and co-operatives. MBB junior policy adviser Omar Cutajar chaired the seminar, while Ivan Farrugia, agricultural officer and Ronald Mizzi, economics officer at the Rural Development Department within the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment (MRAE) were the guest speakers at the seminar.

Mr Mizzi delivered a short introductory presentation to brief the audience on the available grant schemes for improving the processing and marketing of agricultural products as distinct from the grant schemes available for investment in agricultural holdings. Mr Farrugia explained the guidelines for applicants for these grant schemes as well as the relevant application forms and business plans to be submitted along with the project proposals for improving the processing and marketing of agricultural goods.

The information meeting, attended by about 40 persons, mainly stakeholders in the agri-food processing sector, also served to inform the agri-food business community of the yearly staggering out of the EAGGF funds available for Malta between 2004-06. This procedure is being adopted by the Rural Development Department so as to secure the best use and accessibility for the funds available. In this regard, the grant schemes for improving the processing and marketing of agricultural products will be issued on a regular basis until the allotted funds are taken up by interested project bidders.

The participants present for this meeting had ample time to post their questions with the government officials who conducted the meeting. Queries focused in particular on the kind of eligible projects that can be submitted for EU co-financing under these grants schemes and the extent of aid available. Other specific queries concerned the evaluation process adopted for the selection of projects and the way the requisite spot checks are going to be carried out once work on the selected projects is initiated.