Bellanova: "priority actions on supply chains in crisis"
“From Cura Italia to the Relaunch Decree we guarantee agriculture and the food supply chain about 1 billion resources, in addition to those dedicated to horizontal measures. Important resources. Now, we are fully committed to implementing the measures to support the sector in all ways and face the losses suffered by our supply chains ".
This is the premise from which Minister Teresa Bellanova started, opening today the Table with the Regions for an update on the state of the art in light of the two Decrees Cura Italia and Relaunch, the latter currently under the attention of Parliament, and indication of the priorities of the Ministerial action: supply chains in crisis, liquidity to businesses, food emergencies, agritourisms.
"The need for social distancing in the hospitality sector and in the Horeca", Bellanova wanted to underline, "will produce negative effects for a time that we cannot estimate. It is therefore necessary to use all the tools available to help companies overcome this phase. The intense regulatory and technical production of these months has been possible thanks to teamwork that must continue for the good of the sector. Agriculture has no political color, it has answers that we must give together. Our task is never like today ".
Turning to the individual points, Bellanova initially illustrated the measures to deal with the food emergency, with a total of 300 million euros earmarked for the Fund for the most deprived and 400 million for municipalities for coupons. "With Agea", he recalled, "we are delivering 50 thousand tons of food purchased with FEAD funds and tenders for new funds have started, starting with the one on DOP hams. We start from the needs indicated by the charitable bodies and focus on Italian productions at risk of food waste. As for the 250 million euros, the network of institutions is processing what emerges from contact with the territories where requests for help have grown by 40% ".
Hence business support. Or "liquidity support with 350 million for Ismea's guarantees, expansion of the SME Fund also for agricultural businesses, CAP advances to 70%".
As for supporting the supply chains, included in the specific fund of 500 million euros, “we have a list of priorities to share with this table: flower nursery, dairy, animal husbandry, wine, oil, fruit and vegetables and fishing and aquaculture. These are the sectors on which we are investigating the loss data also by crossing what is in the possession of the Revenue Agency ".
Finally, the actions for the agritourisms and the activation, among other targeted interventions, of a specific measure in collaboration with the Regions, “aimed at ensuring liquidity for businesses to allow the continuity of business activities. The intervention ", explained Bellanova," would be financed under the Rural Development Programs, thanks to the extraordinary measure proposed by the European Commission in the modification of EU Regulation no. 1305/2013, under negotiation ".
In the meantime, a capillary radio campaign is underway which for three weeks will invite holidays to the more than 23.000 Italian holiday farms, also using the holiday bonus of up to 500 euros.