SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 16th April. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Canary Islands’ Government has released the Order granting direct assistance to agricultural landowners to compensate for income losses during the 2022/2023 season and to cover additional production expenses incurred during the 2021/2022 season due to the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma.
The total allocated budget for this assistance is 9,380,626.33 euros, with the possibility of reaching 10 million euros once approximately twenty cases that require supporting documentation are processed.
Beneficiaries of this support scheme include agricultural landowners who experienced income reduction due to having portions of their farms covered by lava or inaccessible during the 2022/23 season, those who had to replant due to the disaster, and those who faced supplementary production costs linked to the 2021/22 eruption, such as expenses for ash removal, as corroborated by the Agroseguro report.
Out of the total sum, 7,191,157.32 euros will be allocated to compensate for 911 income loss claims, with the majority from plantain plantations, followed by proteas, avocado, vineyards, and other crops. Additionally, 97,438.44 euros will be designated for ten livestock farms covered by lava.
Furthermore, 2,092,030.57 euros will be distributed among 3,012 banana plantation owners to cover the additional costs incurred for ash removal on their farms.
Councilor Narvay Quintero emphasised that these funds, approved by the Government Council on 8th April, were taken on by the Canary Islands’ Government unlike previous assistance programs. Quintero also reminded that the application period for subsidies under the Canary Islands Rural Development Program (PDR) 2024 remains open to aid in the reconstruction of farms in Tazacorte, El Paso, and Los Llanos de Aridane affected by the eruption. Interested individuals have until 5th June 2024 to apply for these funds, submitting the necessary documentation through the regional Executive’s online platform (https://sede.gobiernodecanarias.org/sede/tramites/9219).
The complete Order text can be accessed through the following link: https://sede.gobiernodecanarias.org/sede/anuncios/c6bf87ec-5…
