More than 3,000 farms in the Free State are to receive the annual compensatory allowance totaling 16.24 million euros this week. According to the Saxon Ministry of Agriculture, this will support the cultivation of 304,106 hectares in so-called disadvantaged areas.
These are mainly located in the Ore Mountains and their foothills, in the north of Saxony and in the Upper Lusatian heath and pond area. Due to difficult soil conditions, limited water supply or steep slopes, lower yields are to be expected there.
The funding is intended to preserve the cultural landscape, stem the loss of biodiversity and compensate for the farms' income disadvantages. According to the information provided, 75 percent of the funding comes from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The remaining 25 percent will be financed via the joint task "Improvement of Agricultural Structures and Coastal Protection" (GAK), which is funded by the federal and state governments in a ratio of 60 to 40.
In addition, around 1.1 million euros will be paid out for insect protection measures. Funding will be provided, for example, for flowering strips and field margins to increase the diversity and number of insects in agricultural landscapes.
