Elena EspinosaCANARY ISLANDS WILL HAVE A GAME OF 10,4 MILLION EUROS.

IT IS AIMED AT BOTH TECHNICAL PERSONNEL AND FARMERS, and Rural and Marine Environment has agreed with the Autonomous Communities of Murcia, Andalusia, Canary Islands and Valencian Community, specific measures to support greenhouse tomato production that will be implemented through rural development programs.

These measures will have a contribution from the MARM of 94,6 million euros, and co-financing by the Autonomous Communities for the modernization and improvement of the energy efficiency of greenhouses.

This line of action is intended to improve the competitiveness of the greenhouse horticultural sector, particularly in the tomato subsector, to adapt it to the new conditions of supply and demand, increasingly demanding due to the entry of products from third countries and the implementation of new technologies in EU countries.

These farms contribute significantly to the economy of the areas in which they are located due to the high levels of employment they generate and their clear vocation for export..

The budget with which this action will be provided will be borne by the MARM and the affected CCAA at the rate of 50 percent. The funds of the General Administration of the State destined for this measure and their distribution among the Autonomous Communities involved will be as follows:

MARM Contribution

Imported (million euros)
Andalusia 60,5, Murcia 19,2, Valencia 4,5, Canary Islands 10,4, Total 94,6

These figures will be complemented with other similar figures allocated by the Autonomous Communities up to a total of 189,2 million euros. The implementation of these measures will mean that:

– The maximum percentage of the investment to be subsidized will be 40%, except for the Canary Islands, which, due to its situation as an outermost region, will be able to reach a 75%.
– The aid will be granted to actions related to the modernization and improvement of the energy efficiency of tomato production greenhouses.
– The aid is specifically aimed at the greenhouse tomato sector, Consequently, the beneficiaries must prove that more than one 70% of its greenhouse production in the last three years is from this product.
– The aid application period will be from its approval until 31 December of 2013.
– The Autonomous Communities involved must now proceed to modify their respective rural development programs to include the new subgoal., and consequently the corresponding financial allocation and the requirements established for the measure in question.

At the Sectoral Conference held on 7 July of 2010, Minister Elena Espinosa informed the Councilors of the 17 Autonomous Communities, and explained the scope of the Support Program for greenhouse tomato production.

The MARM thus responds to the demand of the Spanish greenhouse tomato production sector, by supporting producing farms through the rural development measure of “Modernization of Agricultural Farms”.

The materialization of the measure will be carried out within the Rural Development Programs of the Autonomous Communities involved, through national aid, i.e., without co-financing from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

It is about, Therefore, of national policy aid that, although harmonized with the community rural development policy, will not entail financing from the European Union.