The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies announces that the payment of 3,4 million euros of additional special zootechnical aid in the areas affected by the earthquakes for 3.826 companies is underway. With this payment, agreed with the regional councilors of Umbria, Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche, the DM of the 16 last February was implemented, which arranged an integration to the payment previously in favor of 3.776 companies for 2.499.740 euro. The difference refers to the payment of applications for inquiries that have been unblocked and start at the balance. With these payments the total disbursed as aid for loss of income for farmers affected by the earthquake rises to 32,4 million total.
“Maintaining agricultural activities and livestock in the area of the earthquake is the first defense against depopulation and for the relaunch of the area. With today's payments we are making a useful contribution to the liquidity of companies, covering the lost income caused by the earthquake. There is still a lot to do and also for this reason with the latest budget law we have allocated another 5,2 million euros specifically for the pastures of this area within the total 20 million for the support of extensive animal husbandry in mountain areas. until 2020. We need to give continuity to the work carried out in recent months, because restarting the central Apennines, starting from the agri-food heritage, is a national interest ". This was declared by the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Maurizio Martina.