Infectious livestock diseases are spreading rapidly - protect your farm

Investing in biosecurity is the best way to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases, and the Ministry of Agriculture is responding to the rapid spread of a number of livestock diseases in Europe this year; has brought forward the call for applications for support under the intervention measure „Investments in preventive actions to reduce the impact of potential natural disasters, adverse climatic events and catastrophic events“ in the Strategic Plan for Agricultural and Rural Development of Lithuania for 2023-2027.

Applications for this measure will be open from 2 May to 30 June. In view of the increased threat of communicable diseases, the amount of funds available for this call has been increased from EUR 1 million to EUR 2.6 million. In order to provide more opportunities, the Ministry of Agriculture has reduced the compulsory selection score from 35 to 20 points.

The following are eligible:

• the cost of purchasing and installing indoor or outdoor fencing (fences, gates, access points, access control systems);
• the cost of installing loading/unloading ramps and/or parking areas for livestock;
• costs for the construction of enclosed passageways between buildings for humans and farm animals;
• the cost of purchasing equipment for the heat treatment of feed;
• the cost of installation and purchase of equipment for containers and rooms for the storage of dead animals, the cost of equipment for washing and drying working clothes and boots, etc.

Beneficiaries may be both natural and legal persons engaged in agricultural activities and keeping farm animals.

Maximum support per farm can reach EUR 300 000

Farms with up to 20 notional livestock can receive a maximum of €4,000, while for farms with more than 21 notional livestock, the maximum amount of support will be calculated according to the number of livestock.

The maximum amount of support per project can be up to €100,000, but this can be increased to €300,000 for the purchase of assets that can be used on more than one holding. The aid intensity for this measure is up to 80 % of the total eligible costs.

Biosecurity plan

In order to benefit from the support, farmers will be required to submit a plan for the application of biosecurity measures and the investments needed to do so, which must indicate how security will be ensured on the farms. This plan must be agreed with the territorial unit of the State Food and Veterinary Service before the aid application is submitted and must meet all the requirements.