FAQ

IPARD is the EU and State Budget funded program to assist Albanian agriculture. IPARD provides grants for farmers based on applications that farmers make. Applications should be for investments that the program supports, within the deadlines, rules and application criteria, according to each call for applications.

IPARD Program has three measures for which can be applied:
Measure 1: “Investing in physical assets in agricultural farms”
Measure 3: “Investment in physical assets for the processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products”
Measure 7: “Farm diversification and business development”

If the application includes different investments within a sector then it can be applied, eg investments in the fruit and vegetable sector. It is not acceptable If the application foresees investments in different measures and sectors.

It can be applied from 30.11.2018 to 30.01.2019.for first call.

You can apply with closed envelopes delivered within the respective application deadlines, to ARDA , by mail or hand. , We advise you, for your safety,to submit your application by hand at Str. Muhamet Gjollesha No. 56.

NO, according to the IPARD program, investments can start only after signing the financial support contract with ARDA. Investments that are not contracted can not be funded.

Yes, you can apply, but support can not be given for once funded investmet from any public funding scheme.

1. You can prepare the application yourself. Information on the documents you need, permissible investments and support measures can be found at http://azhbr.gov.al/programi-per-bujqesine-dhe — zhvollimin -rural-ipard-ii/
2. Private consultancy companies provide support services to farmers in the preparation of application files.
3. For additional information you can contact ARDA at tel. 0800 83 83
and email address: info@azhbr.gov.al

The grant is paid in an installment after the completion of the investment (project) and payment of the investment costs by the beneficiary.

There is a minimum and maximum of eligible costs for each measure and consequently the grant is linked, depending on these costs. More detailed information can be found in the Guidelines for Applicants, which will be available at http://azhbr.gov.al/programi-per-bujqesine-dhe-zhvillimin -rural-ipard-ii/

The planned investment (project) implementation period will be determined in the individual grant contract between ARDA and beneficiaries.

It is mandatory to meet the minimum national standards and EU standards in each investment, according to the respective measures and sectors.
Institutions that will deal with the issuance of standards documentation are: environmental protection (National Environmental Agency), public health (National Food Authority), animal welfare (veterinary service) and protection at workplaces ( Labor Inspectorate). The national minimum standards from the beneficiary will be met at the end of the project and the investment will reach EU standards no later than before the last payment.

You will find , with the publication of Guidaline for Applicants an Eligible Expenditures Schedule detailing the investment you may apply.

Documentation of ownership required is:

• Photocopy of the Certificate of Ownership issued by Immovable Property Registration Officeaccompanied by an indicative map and plan showing the ownership of the land and the building(s)inwhich investment will be carried out.
• Photocopy of Certificate of Ownership issued by Immovable Property Registration Office accompanied with the indicative map, property card, and plan of land and building(s) ownership in which the investment will be carried out, or a notarized copy of the lease contract with the minimum duration of at least 10 years after the date of application with notarial verification.
• Photocopy of a  Certificate of Ownership ssued by the Immovable Property Registration Office accompanied by indicative map,property card and plan and registered plan of land where is presented the ownership of the land and the building(s) for the leased person.

Yes you can apply for PARD. If you apply for the same type of investment you must carefully argue why the renovation is needed.

If you apply as UFA, the beneficiary is UFA itself, according to the application made.

You must submit:

The original certificate issued by the Regional Agriculture Directorate certifying that the applicant  has three years of working experience n the field of agriculture for the investment he carries out, or statement that the applicant will  undertake a professional training of 50 hours of training in the relevant sector before final payment.

Applications that are made for medicinal plants should be applied at measure 7.

It is not forbidden to apply for start-ups, as long as all requirements and criteriasof program.are met

Various private sector experts who provide this service. Expenditures on expertise of documentation preparation are allowed, according to the spending limits set out in the Annex6.

The calculation of the exchange rate will be according to European Commission rate, taking as a basis the month before the opening of the call for applications. The information is on the site:

http://ec.europa.eu/budget/contracts_grants/info_contracts/inforeuro/index_en.cfm

The investment must be in Albania, regardless of the applicant’s statehood.

All partner and related  companies inside and outside the country are included in calculating the size of the company according to Annex 4 of the program. Definition of partner and related companies is determined by EU legislation:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32003H0361

Subsidies for heads(animals) are not acceptable.

Production capacity should be not less than 200 hl

You must refer to Law no. 111/2012 ON INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT for permissions of usage and explotationof water.

Offers should not be fictitious and there should not be a conflict of interest between bidding companies.

No, bank costs are not eligible costs, according to Annex 6 of the program.

The realization period will depend from investment and will be determined in the contract, by type of investment and declaration of the applicant.Period of realization 6 months.in the presentation is given  as an illustration.

ARDA has agreements with all institutions that issue documents for standards to be fulfilled, required by the program.

The aid intensity for measure 1 goes up to 70%, if the applicant is in the mountainous area or if the applicant is under the age of 40, so he is a young farmer at the moment of contracting.

Investment, in measure 7, for a restaurant is allowed but must be inside farm.

Yes, it can be applied in two different measures with two separate applications.

It is allowed only one application within the same measurebut it should also be within one sectorof the measure.

There must be three offers for each proposed investment.

Investment, after the contract signing, shall  be made100% with the applicant’s funds, in accordance with contractual terms and  then based on the request for payment, after the completion of investment the payment of the grant is made.

You  can apply, but not for the same investment

For the origin of eligible places for purchased equipments, please read carefully.Chapter 5. Rules for Eligible Expenditures in Applicant Guideline as well as Annex 9: List of  Eligible Countries of Origin.

Regarding the type of investment you are writing to, we can say that investment in the slaughterhouse(Construction and / or reconstruction of facilities and / or lines, equipments, machinery etc.) is acceptablein the IPARD II program.

Support will be given for the construction / rehabilitation of no more than two slaughterhouses for each NUTS II regions (Districts)

An Original Certificate is required to prove that the applicant has met the tax payment obligations (social contributions, health contributions issued by the Tax Office for natural and legal  personsor by the Social Insurance Institute for individual farmers no earlier than 30 days before submitting the application. Certificate must also be submitted for farmers /natural or legal persons that are start-ups.

The IPARD II program does not have age limitation criterion.

Each project should be analyzed in relation to national and European standards as appropriate. Technical bodies will confirm whether investment / legislation requires or not the fulfillment of standards. Each project should be analyzed in connection with the minimum national standardsto be achieved by the enterprise at the end of the investmet, before submitting an application to the IPARD Agency. Institutionswhich will deal with the issuance of standards documentation are with regard to environmental protection(National Environmental Agency), public health (National Food Authority), the welfare ofanimals (Veterinary Service) and protection at workplaces, (Labor Inspectorate).

No,it can not be  applied, as in this case the applicant is eligible but the investment is not acceptable. Private entities that are located outside the rural areas may also apply for Measure 7, if the investments for which support is sought will be carried out in rural areas but the investment should be in accordance with the eligible expenditures which are listed in ANNEX 6  List of Eligible Expenditures. It is acceptable for this measure to invest in renewable energy not in the function of the enterprise / farm but to be considered a separate investment.

The purpose of the sector is to create new farms or to expand farm production of  existing aquaculture capacities. IPARD II program, in this context supports investments under the ANNEX 6 List of Eligible Expenditures that are / will be developed in existing aquaculture farms.Thus, investments that are / will be developed outside aquaculture farms are not acceptable.

You can apply and in this case the applicant must submit a technical proposal project  or a business plan that proves the economic profitability at the end of the realization of the investment.

use of at least10 years since the submission date of the application. The documentation that meets this criterion is:

– A photocopy of ownership certificate issued by the Immovable Property Registration Office on the land and building (s) where the investment will be carried out accompanied by indicative map, property card and layout (sketches), or

– photocopy of the lease contract with a term of at least 10 years after the date of application, notarized and

– Photocopy of the Certificate of Ownership issued by the Immovable Property Registration Office  on land and building  (s) of persons who have leased the land and building (s), accompanied by indicative map, property card and layout (sketches) of the title of registered property.

You should consult ANNEX 6 List of Eligible Expenditures for eligible investments. There are listed in this document,according to measures and sectors all expenditures which are considered eligible under the IPARD II program