Italia will increase agricultural subsidy payments to farmers by 3.2%, according to a draft bill that is expected to be tabled this week.
The new payments, which would be paid on a per hectare basis, are part of a broader economic package that will be tacked on to the budget, which will also include measures aimed at strengthening agricultural production, boosting export growth and boosting the number of dairy farms.
“We have to keep up with the changing market situation and the need to increase the efficiency of our agricultural production,” agriculture minister Mario Girolami said in a statement.
The draft bill will be sent to parliament by the end of next week, with the final text due to be announced on Tuesday.
It aims to “increase the subsidies that farmers can receive from the state and local government and encourage them to invest more in their agricultural sector”, according to the draft bill.
The increase would be partly offset by an increase in the amount of money the state spends on other social welfare programs, which has already been cut by 1.8% in the past year.
