Irrigation in Horticulture and Agriculture

This funding guideline is aimed at public bodies in North Rhine-Westphalia that wish to implement inter-company water management measures in horticulture and agriculture. The goal is to strengthen water supply and infrastructure in regions with a negative climatic water balance.

Investments in inter-company irrigation infrastructures that support horticulture and agriculture in North Rhine-Westphalia are funded. This includes facilities for water extraction, storage, and supply, as well as pumping stations. Individual company measures, administrative buildings, or the acquisition of vehicles and equipment are not eligible for funding.

The program offers a non-repayable grant as project funding with co-financing. The funding rate can be up to 70 percent of the eligible expenses, with a maximum amount of 2.1 million Euros per project. The de minimis threshold is 20,000 Euros.

Eligible projects must meet certain economic and regional criteria, and applicants are obliged to cooperate in the evaluation. There are specific rules for earmarking and cumulation with other funding, as well as comprehensive audit rights for the granting authority.

The application procedure requires the submission of complete documents to the Chamber of Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia before the project begins. Approval is granted at the discretion of the authority within the framework of available budgetary funds. The disbursement of the grant takes place after a successful review of the proof of use.

This funding program is based on the "Irrigation Guideline" of the Ministry for Environment, Agriculture, Nature, and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia and other relevant national and European regulations. The exact provisions are published in the Ministerialblatt NRW.