Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy has announced the start of the first application wave this year for grants aimed at processing enterprises. Applications have also opened for grants designed to help businesses restore production facilities damaged by shelling, EastFruit reports.
Enterprises cultivating perennial crops (NACE 01.2) that are registered in the State Agrarian Register (DAR) can also receive grants under the programme to purchase equipment for post-harvest handling of agricultural products, according to the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
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This year the programme conditions have become even more flexible, offering additional support to producers located in de-occupied territories as well as those purchasing equipment manufactured in Ukraine.
The list of crops included under NACE 01.2 covers:
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Grapes (table and wine varieties)
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Apples, pears and quinces
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Apricots, sour cherries, sweet cherries, peaches and plums
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Strawberries, raspberries, currants, blueberries and other berries
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Walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds
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Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges
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Hops
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Spices, aromatic and medicinal plants
Businesses can submit applications through the Diia portal under two key programmes:
Development grants (up to UAH 8 million): available for the purchase, installation and commissioning of equipment, as well as for research and development (R&D) aimed at launching new products.
Recovery grants (up to UAH 16 million): designed for enterprises that have suffered damage due to military actions. The amount cannot exceed the officially documented value of losses.
Importantly, grants for purchasing post-harvest handling equipment are now also available to agricultural producers (NACE 01.2) registered in the State Agrarian Register.
The state offers several cost-sharing models depending on the priority of the project:
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50/50 — standard conditions for most projects
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70/30 — if equipment produced exclusively in Ukraine is purchased
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80/20 — the highest level of support for projects in frontline or de-occupied territories, for UAV manufacturers and printing houses, as well as for recovery grants
To receive funding, applicants must meet two main requirements:
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Job creation: at least five new jobs must be created.
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Tax return obligation: within three years, the enterprise must pay taxes and fees equal to or exceeding the amount of the grant received.
Both development and recovery grants require the creation of at least five jobs, while the beneficiary must ensure that tax payments over three years are not lower than the amount of the grant provided.
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