The Saxon Ministry of Agriculture plans to support environmentally and climate-friendly agriculture with around 26 million euros. This week, the Free State will transfer the money to a total of 2,393 applicants, the Ministry of Agriculture announced in Dresden on Wednesday. The money will go to agricultural businesses, environmental and landscape conservation associations and individuals.
The money will be paid out as part of the funding guidelines for agri-environmental and climate measures. According to this, corresponding measures from 2023 on more than 36,000 hectares of arable land will be funded with 10.6 million euros and on 34,000 hectares of grassland with 15.6 million euros.
"Many Saxon farms, associations and individuals continue to voluntarily protect nature, the environment and the climate on a large scale," said Saxony's Agriculture Minister Wolfram Günther. According to the Green politician, they make an important contribution to preserving biodiversity, especially insects and birds. Soil, water and the climate should also be protected as a result.
The aim is to increase biodiversity through the careful management of farmland. Individual measures will prevent water and soil erosion and improve soil management. This provides insects, birds and other wild animals with valuable biotopes with a diverse range of food. In addition, the exclusion of pesticides and fertilizers is intended to promote species, water and climate protection.
The management measures on grassland areas are intended to benefit, among other things, nature conservation-friendly grazing by cattle and horses.
The project is largely funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the German Federal Joint Task for Agricultural and Coastal Protection (GAK).
Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
