Belgian pear growers set to receive EU aid

Local pear growers hit by the Russian boycott are set to receive aid from EU funds, Flanders’ agriculture minister Joke Schauvliege said yesterday. She added that the precise amount of compensation would possibly be announced today by the European Commission.

EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos decided to limit production of fruit and vegetables hit by the Russian boycott to avoid the market being swamped. Farmers have already been advised by the government to leave fruit unplucked to avoid running up costs they would not be able to recover.

The EU has set aside a €125 million emergency aid fund under the Common Agricultural Policy to cover farmers who have suffered losses as a result of the Russian food import sanctions. The aid to farmers will be allocated according to the weight of fruit that has been left on the trees, Schauvliege said.

Photo courtesy pcfruit