Agroinsurance

Italia - Citrus production expected to fall

Lower than the previous season which had been very high production.The report Freshfel - Shaffe indicates for Italy a forecast of 2.33 million tons of citrus for the 2014-15 campaign. So -26 % compared to 3.17 million tonnes in the previous season.For oranges , production is expected to reach 1.36 million tons, or -30% compared to 1.95 million tonnes produced last year. Forecasts vary across regions and varieties / orchards. For Washington Navel and Navel varieties , the expected fall will be between -20 and -30 % for the "red" variety decline could reach -40%.For lemons , it is expected 290,000 tonnes this year against 412,000 last year , or -30% . For berries, 685,000 tonnes are expected to be -10% this year compared to 760,000 tonnes last season.Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net/

Romania - Rodents destroyed 6% of wheat harvest

Murine rodents have destroyed some 6% of the wheat harvest in Romania, reports the Agricultural Producer Federation of Romania. The loss inflicted on Romanian farmers amounted to EUR 40 Ml.The rodent population surged due to a ban on rodenticides not authorized for use in the EU-28.According to the Federation, Romanian farmers harvested 6.4 MMT of wheat this year. The crop should have been much higher, but for murine rodents that destroyed 400 KMT of wheat.Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net/

Ukraine - Over 60 mln tonnes of grains harvested

According to operative data as of November 13, Ukraine harvested 60.727 mln tonnes of grains and pulses throughout the areas of 14.195 mln ha, or 96% of the planned areas (excluding the Crimea). The average yield totaled 4.28 t/ha, declared the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.On the same date in 2013, Ukraine harvested 57.389 mln tonnes of grains throughout 14.458 mln ha, with the yield of 3.97 t/ha.In particular, as of to date Ukraine harvested maize for grain throughout 4.151 mln ha (89%). The production volumes totaled 24.245 mln tonnes, with the average yield of 5.84 t/ha.Ukrainian agrarians harvested 9.796 mln tonnes of sunflower seed throughout 5.032 mln ha (97%), with the average yield of 1.94 t/ha; and 3.747 mln tonnes of soybeans throughout the areas of 1.759 mln ha (98%), with the yield of 2.13 t/ha.Source - http://www.apk-inform.com/

Argentina - Total fruit production dropped by almost 20%

Argentina's total fruit production during the 2013-2014 cycle reached 4.2 million tonnes, which represents a decrease of 19.8% compared to the previous campaign, when 5.3 million tonnes were harvested, according to data supplied by IES (Sectorial Economic Research), which predicted that vegetables would register a 6% drop.Pears, apples, lemons, oranges, mandarins and grapefruit, which account for 85% of the production, totalled 3.61 million tonnes and, therefore, registered a 21.3% drop compared to the previous cycle.Meanwhile, the expected vegetable production should further decline in the 2013-2014 season, reaching an estimated 3.9 million tonnes; 6% less than the previous year.This sharp decline was due to the impact of meteorological factors that ruined plantations and reduced production volumes to the lowest levels in more than a decade.They also stated that "there was a strong increase in prices and a drop in domestic consumption."As for domestic sales, in nominal terms, 46.7% concentrate within the first nine months of the year "due to the 54.1% increase in average prices during that period.""Fruit and vegetable sales volumes in the Central Market of Buenos Aires dropped by an overall 4.8%, "a 10% decline in fruits and 1.4% in vegetables."With regard to fruit exports, they registered a drop of 18.2% in the first nine months of 2014, reaching a total of 751.6 million dollars."This is due to lower export volumes, which recorded a 19.9% decline this year," they said.When analysing fruit exports by product, pears were the most sold overseas, followed by lemons and apples.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

A destructive crop pest with many different names

A global research effort has finally resolved a major biosecurity issue: four of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests are actually one and the same.For 20 years, some of the world’s most damaging pest fruit flies have been almost impossible to distinguish from each other. The ability to identify pests is central to quarantine, trade, pest management and basic research.In 2009, a co-ordinated research effort got underway to definitively answer this question by resolving the differences, if any, between five of the most destructive fruit flies: the Oriental fruit fly, the Philippine fruit fly, the Invasive fruit fly, the Carambola fruit fly, and the Asian Papaya fruit fly. These species cause incalculable damage to horticultural industries and food security across Asia, Africa, the Pacific and parts of South America.The Philippine fruit fly was formally recognized as the same species as the Asian Papaya fruit fly in 2013. The latest study goes further, conclusively demonstrating that they are also the same biological species as the Oriental and Invasive fruit flies. These four species have now been combined under the single name: Bactrocera dorsalis, the Oriental fruit fly. The closely related Carambola fruit fly remains distinct.“More than 40 researchers from 20 countries examined evidence across a range of disciplines, using morphological, molecular, cytogenetic, behavioural and chemoecological data to present a compelling case for this taxonomic change,” said Tony Clarke, chair of Fruit Fly Biology and Management from the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC) and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT)“This outcome has major implications for global plant biosecurity, especially for developing countries in Africa and Asia,” he said.The Oriental fruit fly has caused crop losses exceeding 80 per cent in Africa and is considered a billion-dollar threat to Australia producers.“Globally, accepting these four pests as a single species will lead to improved international co-operation in pest management, more effective quarantine measures, reduced barriers to international trade, the wider application of established post-harvest treatments, improved fundamental research and, most importantly, enhanced food security for some of the world’s poorest nations,” said Clarke.Source - http://www.manitobacooperator.ca/

Czech Republic - Growers and farmers to receive 25.4 million Euro more in subsidies

As reported by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture, farmers and growers forming part of the so-called sensitive sectors, which include hop growing, cultivation of potato starch, cattle, sheep and goats, will receive 1.5 billion crowns (54.38 million Euro) in support from the European Union. The amount is roughly CZK 700 million (25.4 million Euro) higher than last year.The Minister of Agriculture, Marian Jurečka, has also signed a separate payment for sugar beet and tomato growers. The former will receive 1.22 billion crowns (44.23 million Euro), compared to last year's 1.14 billion (41.33 million Euro). Tomato Growers will receive a subsidy of 11.4 million crowns (413,318 Euro), while last year they were granted 10.6 million crowns (383,313 Euro)."It is definitely good news for farmers and growers that the amount of support to vulnerable sectors has nearly doubled compared to 2013," said the Minister.From next year, in the framework of the new Common Agricultural Policy, fruit growers in the Czech Republic should get up to 100 million crowns (3.62 million Euro), with the same amount allocated for vegetable producers, while potato growers should receive 50 million crowns (1.81 million Euro).Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

Cambodia - CEDAC to provide insurance to rice farmers

The Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) will provide agricultural insurance to Cambodian rice farmers nationwide next year as part of a deal reached with another NGO on Tuesday.CEDAC president Yang Saing Koma said Wednesday that CEDAC and the Netherlands-based Achmea Foundation are cooperating to implement the project, which will begin providing insurance in early 2015.“The project will determine whether agricultural insurance for farmers will help prevent [financial] losses…due to risks such as weather, flooding and crop diseases,” Mr. Saing Koma said.Under the agreement, Mr. Saing Koma said, Achmea will inject $90,000 into the project, which aims to provide insurance services to 3,000 farmers by October 2016.An annual premium will be determined next year, once CEDAC and Achmea consult with farmers to settle on a price, he said.Samath Veasna, vice president of the Federation of Cambodian Farmer Organizations for Development, a cooperative of rice farmers, said he welcomed the project.“This is the first time I have heard that agricultural insurance will be provided to rice farmers,” he said.“I strongly support it because farmers deal with many risks.”Source - http://www.cambodiadaily.com/

USA - Orange growers assess drought impact on crop

Workers at the Orange Cove-Sanger Citrus Association pack navel oranges as harvest begins. Growers and packer-shippers say the drought and hot summer helped concentrate sweetness, and fruit quality is good, but sizing is off. The fruit has been slow to size, particularly in production areas where irrigation water is limited or unavailable.This is one of those years that drives citrus farmers nuts, said Rod Radke, who grows navel oranges in Fresno County. Early harvest reports indicate good-quality oranges in terms of shape and sweetness, but the drought and lack of irrigation water are being blamed for slow and uneven fruit sizing.The initial 2014-15 navel orange crop forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in September was for near-average production levels. The federal survey estimated the harvest at about 78 million cartons, off slightly from the 81 million cartons produced in 2013-14. Survey data, however, indicated fruit size of 2.205 inches in circumference was somewhat low compared to the five-year average of 2.256.When the survey was released, California Citrus Mutual President Joel Nelsen said the assessment may not have factored in all the variables growers face this year: lack of water, trees removed from production, farmers going out of business and a long, hot summer that may have helped reduce fruit size.If growers have gotten a crop through to this point, they're now concerned about getting rain to help the fruit size, said Radke, who is a member of the California Farm Bureau Federation citrus advisory committee.If forecasts for another dry winter prove accurate, it looks as though the state's citrus growers may be in for a long fight. They say holding small fruit through a cold cycle is difficult and could add up to serious damage and losses.The zero irrigation-water allocation from the federal Central Valley Project meant farmers had to turn to emergency water sources secured by local irrigation districts."I purchased emergency water at $1,200 an acre-foot, but by the time I got it on the trees it was just too late," McMasters said. "Some growers were able to put enough on early to save their crops, but the fruit size in our irrigation district is small. Everybody put on considerably less water than in a normal year."He said his Valencia orange crop, which is a summer-harvested fruit, also appeared to be "significantly reduced" in volume, but, he said, "we were able to save our lemon, blood orange and red grapefruit crops. As for my navels, the water was too little, too late."McMasters said the citrus crop throughout the Terra Bella area, which has been hard hit by water shortages, appears to be seriously impacted in terms of fruit size.With the return of an adequate water supply, McMasters said, growers could bounce back with a big crop next year. He said citrus growers need rain now, to help the fruit gain size, and adequate irrigation water next year to maintain future production levels.McMasters said in his area he's seeing hundreds of acres of citrus groves being pushed out—or growers are simply letting the trees die."I've got dead groves all around me," he said. "I can imagine if we have another dry winter, the acres that will be removed will likely double. The only thing that will help is rain in January and February. I'm not going to guess what will happen beyond that."California supplies 85 percent of the nation's fresh citrus and navel oranges are one of the state's top crops, valued at more than $721 million a year.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

Canada - Crop damage mounts due to deer

Every year, farmers face crop damage from wildlife. Farmers are often undercompensated for the losses caused by wildlife through the wildlife compensation program. The idea of compensation is great, but the real issue is an inability to control the wildlife problem.This year, farmer Jim Burrows, tracked the yield of his soybean field and compared the section closest to the highway to the section closest to the woods. The yield difference was 700 kilograms per acre. This works out to 35,000 tonnes of soybeans lost from wildlife damage on his farm.The assessment by the officials of the wildlife compensation program stated a total loss of 1.605 tonnes. The assessments are done based on visual inspection by the field agent and historic yield averages. Visual inspection doesn’t provide facts, and historic yields are low because of several years of deer pressure.Extension specialists have been approached to set up plot cages and do yield counts in the soybean fields next year. It has been made clear this research would not be used as part of the inspection process.Jim Burrows says it is obvious that the deer population has exploded. Restrictions on doe harvesting, changes in farming practices and a limited hunting season all contributed to this population explosion. Even with the lifting of the restriction on doe harvest, and the addition of bag limits for an early hunt, the population is increasing. If the population isn’t controlled through DNR, there will continue to be an increase in compensation claims for wildlife damage.The provincial government needs to take ownership of this problem. It protects and regulates the deer and hunting. The Department of Agriculture needs a credible way to evaluate the damage in all crops.Burrows`s loss of soybean to deer this year was somewhere between 1.6 and 35 tonnes, a difference in value of over $11,000. Losses of that magnitude on one farm should illustrate the seriousness of the problem.Source - http://thechronicleherald.ca/

Australia - Storm wipes out cherries

A Millthorpe cherry crop expected to produce close to 140 tonnes of fruit this season has been wiped out by hail damage in a wild storm that ripped through the Central West last Wednesday.Millthorpe Cherry Exports orchard manager for the past nine years, Rodney Oxley, said the hail in sizes between five-cent and 10- cent coins ripped through the orchard's 10,000 trees of 13 varieties, just one month before picking.The storm also wreaked terrible damage to cereal and pulse crops in a line through Gilgandra, Dubbo and Millthorpe."Speaking with orchardists in the Orange growing area, the storm completely missed them and came through here in a very short width from the south west," Mr Oxley said.While he is counting the damage, Mr Oxley believes not much of the crop would be salvaged."I'm looking at 50 per cent of the fruit stripped off and laying on the ground with a further 20 to 30 per cent damage on the trees," he said.Mr Oxley manages the orchard for Sydney businessman, Steve Tesoriero, a director of Vegie World, agents operating at Sydney's Flemington Produce Markets.Mr Oxley said the orchard produced 100 tonne of cherries last year, many of which were exported to Asia."We've had such a good season that I was estimating a picking of up to 140 tonnes this season," he said.He has now moved into salvage mode and will spray his trees for Brown Rot, which he said would spread from damaged fruit to good harvestable fruit within days."We just can't lock the gate and try again next year," he said."Orchards are a year-round management thing from spraying, pruning and keeping moisture up to the trees."The devastated crop will also dent the local economy and employment."I've had to put off two casual workers and we would normally employ more than 120 pickers plus contract out our grading and packing."Mr Tesoriero said he couldn't insure the crop for such damage so it's one season completely lost.At Armatree, Chris Roach, who farms "Reedsdale" with wife Sara, estimated a loss of 60pc of his pulse crops from the storm."I wouldn't be the worst hit though," he said."Where we lost the crops, we got hit pretty hard. The hail was about an inch across."Mr Roach said he was lucky to be insured for the damage, but said it was still a huge blow."You don't grow crops to lose them. You grow crops to see how good you are at it."A total of 1300 hectares of pulses, including lupins and chickpeas, were within a "whisper" of being harvested."The lupins were just ripe. We will try to salvage something but the pods are splitting open now," he said. "When you stand in the paddock you can hear the snap, crackle, pop of them splitting."Mr Roach said the hail damage and warm weather and wind following the storm was splitting the pods."Before this, we'd had a good season. The crop would have been above average," he said."It's part of the game. It's not common for us to get hail but we do get it."Source - http://www.theland.com.au/

USA - Snow impacts Marathon Co. corn and soy bean crops

Some Marathon County farmers are feeling the effects of the recent winter storm.They say the snow is making it difficult to harvest corn and soy beans.Town of Easton farmer James Juedes has about 40 acres of corn ready for harvest, except his field is covered in more than six inches of snow."It's a pain in the butt really," said Juedes. "I mean this is something you don't usually get until December."Juedes says the snow makes it difficult for farming equipment to move around and collect the corn needed to feed his cows."[The snow] insulates the ground and the ground is wet and there's no frost like that so we're going to be chewing up a lot of mud," said Juedes.A farming expert from the UW-Extension say about 70 percent of the corn fields in Marathon County are still standing.She says these are signs of a tough year in farming."With the moisture problem we had at the beginning of the year," said Heather Schlesser, Marathon County UW-Extension Dairy Agent. "We had a hard time getting it in, we had a hard time getting it to grow and now that we have snow, we're having a hard time getting it off."Another crop affected by the snow in Marathon County is the snow bean crop. Schlesser says most of the beans on the plant grow at the bottom, making the snow-covered fields a total loss because they can't be harvested."For beans you could probably easily talking four to five hundred dollars per acre," said Schlesser. "You're talking thousands of dollars, just to put it in fertilizer alone is going to cost a thousand dollars."Farmers say while the snow-covered soy beans likely can't be recovered, most of the corn can."It's just going to take time and that we just have to wait," said Juedes.Farmers say they want to see drier weather.Despite the hard year for farming, farming leaders say that the alfalfa and hay crops were good this year.Source - http://www.myfoxwausau.com/

India - Agri insurance a loss: farmers

The Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme introduced in 2010 by the Union ministry of agriculture to provide financial support to farmers in case of crop damage due to natural calamities, diseases and pests, has not benefited farmers.According to the farming community, it is the insurance companies which are raking in profits on account of the operation of scheme by adopting the "area approach" instead of judging each case individually. As one farmer pointed out, damage must cover at least 75% of the gram panchayat area where a particular crop is cultivated or else no compensation is paid.Now, the farmers fear that if the insurance sector is opened to foreign direct investment (FDI), things could get worse for them.These views were expressed by farmers of Pilibhit district when TOI tried to ascertain their views about the national agriculture insurance scheme.Manjit Singh from Bela Pukhra village, Jarnail Singh Jolly of Skaria, Rakshpal Singh from Katakpua and Jaspal Singh from Chatarbhojpur village were some farmers while speaking to TOI termed the MNAIS as defective scheme and the burden on farmers. It completely neglects losses of individual farmers in a situation where there were no widespread damages to crops in the area. The banks are empowered to forcibly charge the premium of crop insurance from the loan accounts of the farmers even if they are reluctant to avail the scheme.They warned that farmers would keep facing big losses until the assessment of the loss to crop is not initiated on an individual basis. They termed it a violation of fundamental right if a payer of insurance premium is denied the benefits of compensation.They pointed out that the official figures of crop insurance premium and the compensation government paid to cover damages reveal how the scheme is proving to be anti-farmer.The deputy director of agriculture AK Singh told TOI that under the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS), in 2011-12, the total premium of crop insurance charged from farmers was Rs 1.49 crore against which the farmers were given compensation of only Rs 25.24 lakh towards damage to their crops. Likewise, in the next financial year, the corresponding figures were Rs 65.56 lakh and Rs 5.89 lakh marking a difference of 65.56 lakh between the amount of premium and the compensation. In the current financial year, the banks had charged the highest-ever premium from farmers (valued at Rs 411 lakh) only in the Kharif season, he explained.He explained that the premium of crop insurance is compulsorily charged by banks from those farmers who are the holders of agriculture loan accounts in the form of KCC (Kisan Credit Cards) and the premium amount is debited directly to their respective loan accounts. However, those farmers who have not taken a loan from the banks can decide whether they wish to avail of a crop insurance policy or not.He said MNAIS provides insurance coverage to all crops — foodgrains, oilseeds and annual commercial crops — provided these are primarily produced in the respective district. For the district of Pilibhit, wheat and mustard are the permitted crops for insurance in the Rabi season while paddy and sugarcane have been assigned for Kharif season, he added.AK Singh told that the amount of crop insurance premium varies in different districts as well as from crop to crop. For the current fiscal year, a total of 5.59% premium, on sum insured, has been fixed for paddy crop, in Pilibhit district, of which 3% would be borne by the farmer while the remaining share would be contributed by the central and the state governments in 50:50 ratio.For sugarcane, a premium of 2.49% has been fixed with 2% share of farmers, mustard crop has 4.34% premium making the farmers contribute 2.60% share and wheat crop would need 2% premium without any contribution of the government, the deputy director said.Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Philippines - One year on typhoon Haiyan affected farmers bouncing back

One year after Typhoon Haiyan devastated coastal and farmland areas in the central Philippines, farmers and fishers are well on the road to recovery and building more resilient livelihoods.FAO, in close collaboration with the government of the Philippines, is reaching out to communities in severely affected areas through some 22 projects across the MIMAROPA, Western, Central and Eastern Visayas regions."Farmers are the backbone of this recovery and the key to build community resilience to future disasters," said FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva on the eve of the one-year anniversary."Their work now will ensure that when the next typhoon hits, the impacts are smaller and they are able to recover quicker," he added, having witnessed local rebuilding efforts first hand during a visit to affected areas in March of this year.Typhoon Haiyan's record force decimated crop fields, orchards, fishing boats and gear - virtually all productive assets that rural and coastal families base their lives upon- causing losses to agriculture across the nine affected regions and threatening the nation's food security.Within hours of the Typhoon making landfall around, 1.1 million tonnes of crops, 44 million coconut trees suffered severe damage, as did fishing communities along some of the country's most productive shores."With one-third of the country relying on the agriculture sector for their livelihood, it is crucial to get people back on their feet as quickly as possible and assist them in rebuilding their lives," said FAO Representative to the Philippines José Luis Fernandez, adding that "We need to start building people's ability to be self-reliant from day one."Leveraging nearly $40 million in support from the international community, FAO and local authorities have been providing assistance to 150,000 farming and fishing families (some 750,000 people), in four critical areas of intervention: rice and corn farming, fisheries and coastal communities, coconut-based farming systems, and coastal/mangrove forest rehabilitation.Rice farmers bounce backIn response to a request by the government of the Philippines, within weeks of the disaster, FAO began distributing rice production packages in time for the December/January planting season, enabling farmers to bring in their first crop without skipping one harvesting season. These rice farmers have already sown their fields for the second time with the certified rice seed and are now harvesting the second time since the typhoon."Farmers have been key responders in this emergency," Mr Fernandez underscored."We helped them source seed to plant in time. They, in turn, filled local markets with rice four months later. Without their perseverance, food aid and other forms of humanitarian assistance would have been required much longer and for many more people."Since December, FAO has provided some 100,000 rice and corn farming households (some 500,000 people) with certified rice seed, corn seed, fertilizer and hand tools.In order to further build resilience and make accessing markets easier, FAO is providing water- and-pest-resistant storage containers to protect farmers' seeds, along with drying nets and post-harvest equipment, and is training farmers in how to reduce post-harvest losses.Looking at the future: Improving sustainable practicesWith an estimated 30,000 small-scale fishing boats lost, damaged or destroyed, nearly two-thirds of fishing communities lost their productive assets. FAO is working closely with local authorities to restore fisheries-related livelihoods while paving the way for more sustainable development."The rehabilitation process of the fisheries sector, presents the opportunity to introduce improved practices and help small-scale traders and fish processors add more value to their production," said Mr Fernandez.Because mangroves play a key role in stabilising coastlines against weather shocks and contribute to aquaculture and fisheries, FAO is working with local communities and organizations to promote the rehabilitation of natural mangrove forests.Women, who are essential to post-harvesting activities like conserving, selling and trading fish, are being trained how to add extra value to their products.FAO and partners are also training boat builders on the construction and maintenance of a newly developed hybrid wood-and-fibreglass boat, which will provide a more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective option for fishers. This is being complemented by the distribution of various inputs, such as boat engines, fishing gear, seaweed and fish production kits.In all, the fisheries programme is extending support to 19,000 families in the target regions, which benefits some 95 000 people.Beyond coconutsGiven that newly planted coconut trees take an average of six to eight years to be ready for harvest, support to coconut farmers has focused on providing affected families with alternative sources of livelihood."Diversifying sources of income also gives families an added buffer against future shocks," Mr Fernandez noted.FAO has been providing agricultural inputs like vegetable seeds, root and fruit crops, as well as livestock such as poultry and cows, which will also help families enrich and diversify their diet."Almost all of our animals perished from the typhoon. We have not started raising animals yet, but this assistance from FAO is crucial in allowing us to restart poultry and livestock-raising again," said Madeline Laubena, a coconut farmer from Aklan in Western Visayas.Farmers are also being trained on seed production management, entrepreneurship and climate-resilient agricultural practices.Over 35,000 coconut farming and agroforestry-reliant families are in the process of developing more diversified and resilient livelihoods through FAO's programme, which will benefit some 175,000 people.Source - http://www.thecropsite.com/

Israel - Hail damaged crops

On 3 November, the first hail of the season fell on central and northern Israel. According to the Insurance Fund for Natural Risks KANAT, the estimated damage is 10 million shekels (~2 million Euro).It has been reported that the hail damaged roofs of greenhouses, vegetables in the fields, as well as fruit and citrus plantations.CEO of the Fund, David Ginsburg, has said that cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage and broccoli were affected the most.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

Czech Republic - Financial support for agricultural machinery and insurances

The Support and Guarantee Agricultural and Forestry Fund (PGRLF) in collaboration with the Czech Ministry of Agriculture, has set the amount of aid provided to growers under the financial support and insurance programme.The basic interest rate on loans for the purchase of agricultural machinery has been set at 2.5%; growers will also recover 50% of the paid insurance for special crops, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as livestock. For insurance in other crops, such as corn, they will get 18% back. These rates apply to applications for aid submitted in 2014.For the aid in the purchase of agricultural machinery, the PGRLF has allocated more than 400 million crowns (14.4 million Euro). The Fund expects to receive approximately 3,200 applications for support on loans for the purchase of tractors, harvesters and other pieces of agricultural machinery.Last year, the entity received a total of 3,140 applications for credit support, to which it allocated a total of 407 million crowns (14.7 million Euro).Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/