The State Fund Agriculture has approved the guidelines for emergency state aid to farmers hit by the Middle East crisis, the fund said. The guidelines clear the way for work on the scheme, known as "Iran aid", which has a total budget of up to €170m.

The aid is a grant, so farmers do not have to pay it back. It covers part of the cost of diesel and nitrogen fertiliser, which have risen sharply in price. Farmers in primary agricultural production who are registered under Ordinance No. 3 of 1999 can apply. So can tobacco growers registered under Ordinance No. 22 of 21 December 2016.

The previous development: Farmers to get €170m in aid under two schemes, with fuel support first

The fund has not yet said when applications will open. Its executive director will set the deadlines for applying and for payment by order. The scheme runs until 31 December 2026. The European Commission approved it at the start of October.

The money is calculated and paid in two stages, first for diesel, then for fertiliser. The diesel rate is fixed at €0.44 a litre and applies to the diesel recorded in primary production in calendar year 2024. Farmers can apply if they have valid applications for the 2025 campaign under the scheme "Aid in the form of a rebate on excise duty on diesel used in primary agricultural production".

Fertiliser payments will come from what is left of the budget once the money for fuel is set aside, and after the fund's Management Board decides. The amount depends on the area confirmed under the "Basic Income Support for Sustainability" (BISS) scheme for the 2025 campaign, on average cost norms, and on a market indicator for the price of nitrogen fertiliser.

One business can get up to €50,000 in total for both types of aid. A farmer who receives €50,000 for diesel alone loses the right to fertiliser aid. If the ceiling under the Temporary Framework has not been reached, fertiliser aid is paid up to the individually calculated maximum, but no more than €50,000 in total per recipient.

The guidelines set out the rules, how payments are calculated, the full list of documents and the eligible crops. They are on the State Fund Agriculture website, under "Schemes and support measures", then "Emergency support schemes", in the "2026" section.

Applications can be filed in person or through an authorised representative at the municipal agriculture offices of the regional Agriculture Directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Individuals apply at their permanent address, while companies and sole traders apply at their registered office. The ISAK system generates the application automatically. It is then printed in two copies and signed by the applicant or the authorised representative.

If documents are incomplete or do not match, farmers will have up to 5 working days after applications close to fix them.