Payments of cash support to fruit and vegetable growers, affected by the Ukraine war, are starting. Funds from the Horticultural Exceptional Payment Scheme will be going to eligible applicants.
The HEPS scheme is a support measure worth €2.8 mln, funded from Ireland’s allocation for exceptional adjustment aid to producers in agricultural sectors adversely affected by the invasion of Ukraine.
Horticulture minister Pippa Hackett: “Our domestic horticultural growers play a vital role in producing safe, nutritious and local food in an environmentally sustainable manner. These payments will provide valuable cash flow to help to support growers and ensure the long-term viability of the sector.”
Payments to growers in the sectors of high-wire crops, field vegetables and apples will be made on an area basis (per hectare) for crops being grown in 2022. For mushrooms, payments will be calculated on the level of mushrooms sold and will be based on the quantity (weight in kilograms) of mushrooms sold over the period from 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022.
The subsectors included under this scheme include commercial growers in the glasshouse high-wire crops (peppers/tomatoes/cucumbers), field vegetable, mushroom and apple sectors. Payments will be capped at €100,000 per beneficial owner, according to the minister.
Source: businessplus.ie