Takac: PPA Pays Out More Than 97% of Payments to Farmers Under 2024 Campaign

Bratislava, June 2 (TASR) - Since May 31, 2024, the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA) has paid out more than 97 percent of direct payments to farmers under the 2024 campaign, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Richard Takac (Smer-SD), alongside PPA Director General Marek Cepko and President of the Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber (SPPK) Andrej Gajdos announced at a press conference on Monday. Out of a total of €582 million, nearly €567 million has already been disbursed. By the end of the programming period, i.e. by June 30, 2025, €16.1 million remains to be paid. „I can say that since May 31, for the first time in the history of PPA’s operations, we managed to pay out more than 95 percent by the end of May," said Takac, noting that Slovakia will not face penalties from the European Commission, as it met the requirement to pay out 95 percent of direct payments under the 2024 campaign. A total of 14,088 applicants submitted requests for direct payments in the 2024 campaign. Of these, 674 were young farmers, 8,814 applied under eco-schemes, and 1,575 were cattle breeders. Takac further clarified that over 1,100 sheep breeders applied, along with 224 fruit growers and 246 vegetable growers. Additionally, the PPA supported 5,788 farmers in areas with natural disadvantages, 511 animal welfare-focused breeders, and 901 organic farmers. He also noted that the 2025 campaign is already underway. For the 2025 campaign, a total of €600 million in direct payments will be available to farmers. In comparing the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, according to Cepko, the number of applications for the whole-farm eco-scheme increased by more than 400 this year, with a total of 9,238 applications received by the PPA. The number of young farmer applications remained the same as last year at about 670. However, there was a decrease of 60 applications among sheep and dairy cow breeders. mf