Source: European Parliament
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the Strategic Plans Regulation[1], includes a range of tools that allow farmers and Member States to develop production (including of aromatic and medicinal plants) ensuring the viability and competitiveness of farms.
In the Greek CAP Strategic Plan (CSP)[2], a Basic Income Support with a total amount of EUR 4 274 574 890.is paid to all eligible farmers.
The unit amount, per eligible hectare in the agricultural area of arable crops, is set to EUR 215. An increased support for small/medium farms and young farmers with bigger income support needs with a total amount of EUR 913 297 896 is also programmed under the CSP.
Farmers may participate on a voluntary basis in the eco-schemes relevant to medicinal and aromatic plants with different support rates (e.g. organic farming: EUR 1 295/hectare/year, use of resistant and adapted species and varieties: EUR 824/hectare/year).
Furthermore, under the rural development interventions, investment support is available to modernize or improve production, aiming to improve economic efficiency, and competitiveness of agricultural holdings to quickly adapt to market needs and to increase their market orientation.
In addition, support is programmed for investments in the processing/marketing and/or development of several agricultural products, including medicinal and aromatic plants, aiming to produce quality products, increasing their added value, as well as helping to enter new markets.
Finally, the CSP provides support for interventions for producer organisations (EUR 31 million), quality schemes (EUR 41 million), training (EUR 108 million) and advisory services to farmers (EUR 63 million).