A new government program offers financial support to Romanian farmers who grow vegetables in protected spaces like greenhouses and solariums. Eligible farmers can receive up to 1,500 euros for every 1,000 square meters cultivated, with the total amount reaching up to 50,000 euros per enterprise over three years. Government Decision No. 325/2025 was published in the Official Gazette on April 7, 2025.
The scheme is valid from 2025 to 2027 and is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, financed through county agricultural directorates. The budget allocated for the current year (2025) is 342.4 million lei, aimed at supporting local vegetable production and reducing dependence on imports.
The program covers 12 vegetable crops, for which minimum production thresholds are established: tomatoes require a minimum of 3,000 kg per 1,000 square meters, lettuce a minimum of 10,000 plants per 1,000 square meters, and eggplants a minimum of 4,000 kg per 1,000 square meters.
Farmers must cultivate a minimum of 1,000 square meters, registered in the Agricultural Register, and comply with a set of 20 requirements to be eligible for aid. These requirements include holding a valid producer certificate, being registered in the unique beneficiaries' register, adhering to a strict calendar for sowing, harvesting, and marketing production, and retaining supporting documents (such as invoices and marketing notebooks) for 10 years. Farmers must also accept field inspections.
Supporting documents must be submitted by October 24, 2025, while physical checks of cultivated areas will be conducted by the end of September 2025. The program imposes strict rules on land allocation: for a farm with an area between 3,001 and 4,000 square meters, at least 2,000 square meters must be cultivated with tomatoes. For farms larger than 10,000 square meters, a minimum of 6,000 square meters must be reserved for tomatoes. This criterion reflects the government’s intention to stimulate domestic tomato production, a crop in high demand in Romania.
The primary objective of the scheme is to enhance the competitiveness of Romanian products, particularly during the off-season. By stimulating local production, authorities aim to reduce vegetable imports, create jobs in rural areas, ensure a steady supply of markets, and adopt modern and sustainable agricultural practices.
The government emphasizes that the effective implementation of the program depends on adherence to the rules and transparency in the allocation of funds. "It is about 1,500 euros for 1,000 square meters. The maximum threshold of aid is 50,000 euros for a beneficiary," said Mihai Constantin, the government spokesperson.
As Romania looks to bolster its agricultural sector, this initiative marks a significant step towards supporting local farmers and ensuring food security in the coming years. With the right measures in place, the government hopes to foster a thriving environment for vegetable cultivation, ultimately benefiting both producers and consumers alike.
