The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands has announced a line of aid of up to 100,000 euros per beneficiary to encourage the creation of companies by young farmers and ranchers. With the aim of promoting generational change in the primary sector, this subsidy from the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) 2023-2027 has a total amount of 24 million euros for the entire programming period, which is divided into 4.9 million euros per year.
In relation to this line of support, the Area Councilor, Narvay Quintero, reported "that this measure will allow the incorporation of more than 300 young farmers and ranchers into the sector and explained that "in addition to the economic support provided by these funds, providing them with financial capacity to start their farms, they are provided with advice and assistance for the preparation and execution of their business plan during the first years of activity, as well as for the application and justification procedure of the subsidy."
Quintero highlighted that the maximum aid premium per beneficiary has increased compared to the previous program, from 70,000 to 100,000 euros, and recalled that the Canarian Executive prioritizes young people in the granting of other PEPAC measures such as investments in modernization and improvement of farms and the Community Support Program for Agricultural Production in the Canary Islands (POSEI).
"We thus contribute to guaranteeing the much-needed generational change and, consequently, to the maintenance of our agricultural and livestock activity, and our rural areas. This government team is committed to young people because betting on them is ensuring the future of our primary sector," he added.
Another novelty of this new program is that, with a single call, the deadlines for submitting applications to access these funds during the years 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 are determined, offering potential applicants the opportunity to know in advance the start dates of the periods to apply for subsidies, without having to wait for the annual publications of the calls, as was the case in the RDP.
To be beneficiaries of these funds, applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old and reside on the island of installation; be the owner or co-owner of a priority agricultural holding or reach such consideration at the end of the business plan; not have started the activity before submitting the application; present and execute a viable business plan that contemplates the installation of a natural person in individual mode or a maximum of two people in dual mode, both as heads of the holding; not be registered in the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers of Social Security (RETA) for agricultural activity before the application.
Likewise, they must have capacity, training and/or experience in agricultural matters or commit to acquire it before the end of the business plan, demonstrable by means of a title, diploma or attendance to courses of at least 200 hours in specific areas; that the holding has at least one Agricultural Work Unit (AWU) per installed person, and commit to carry out the agricultural activity for at least five years from the last payment of the subsidy. In addition, interested parties must ensure that no environmental damage is caused and comply with environmental, hygiene and animal welfare regulations, among other requirements.
Young people interested in accessing these funds have until July 15 to submit their applications, together with the required documentation, through the electronic headquarters of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Access to the call for agriculture and that of livestock are made through the web pages.
For the years 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 these will be formalized during the month of February of each year of call.
These subsidies are co-financed by the European Union, the Autonomous Community and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The EU funds will be paid directly to the beneficiaries through the Paying Agency for European Agricultural Funds.
The full text of the call can be consulted through the following link
