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<pre>I am a small oil producer in Toscana and have hard many times about
EU sibsidies but have had no luck in finding out if I am eligible --
I am about to restore a decrepit drip irrigation system and a number
of stone terraces. I would like to know if it is possible to get some
help in restoring this ancient system. Thank you for any help you can
provide.


m
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<pre>Hi Mark,

in principle the are two levels of subsidies/financing forms in place, in
Regione Toscana (and in Italy, EU in general):

1. "Aiuto alla produzione", which is proportional to the oil produced (in
three years time it should be replaced by a different system, possibly
based on the number of trees).

2. What falls under the EU "Agenda 2000"

Under this heading you find most (almost all...) of the financing
opportunities in terms of structural investments and environmental
measures (organic farming, etc.).

As far as the application of Agenda 2000 for Tuscany, you may refer to the
web site of ARSIA http://www.arsia.toscana.it/, and look at the Piano di
Sviluppo Rurale /Carta delle opportunità.

(and of course, to your producer's association: APROL, or OTA).

In principle, the restoration of elements of the traditional rural
landscape (including stone terraces) is among the measures which are funded.

The problem is that the available funds are limited, and only those
fulfilling tight requirements (e.g. if you are in a "Comune svantaggiato",
registered as a professional farmer - "imprenditore agricolo a titolo
principale "-, engaged in organic farming, etc.) have a reasonable
perspectives of getting financed...

I hope it helps,

Tomaso Ceccarelli


At 06:58 PM 9/23/2001 +0000, you wrote:
>I am a small oil producer in Toscana and have hard many times about
>EU sibsidies but have had no luck in finding out if I am eligible --
>I am about to restore a decrepit drip irrigation system and a number
>of stone terraces. I would like to know if it is possible to get some
>help in restoring this ancient system. Thank you for any help you can
>provide.
>
>
>m
>
>
>
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</pre>
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