Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food began paying almost €27.3 million in fertiliser-purchase aid to 14,572 farm holders in Catalonia on Friday 4 September. The payments are intended to help farms maintain production while limiting the risk that higher fertiliser costs are passed on in food prices, according to the Spanish government.

Eligible irrigated crops can receive up to €92.50 per hectare, while dryland crops can receive up to €38.33 per hectare. For Catalan growers, the support reduces part of the immediate cost of a key agricultural input.

Most funding goes to Lleida

Lleida receives the largest share, €15.4 million for 7,659 farmers. Tarragona follows with €5.9 million for 4,387 beneficiaries.

  • Lleida: €15.4 million for 7,659 farmers.
  • Tarragona: €5.9 million for 4,387 farmers.
  • Girona: €3.4 million for 1,084 farmers.
  • Barcelona: €2.6 million for 1,442 farmers.

Part of a €700m national response plan

Across Spain, the fertiliser scheme totals €494.57 million and covers 249,376 farmers. It forms part of a €700 million Comprehensive Response Plan to the Middle East crisis, which the Ministry says is intended to make fertiliser purchases easier for farmers.

“Appropriate” fertilisation levels are essential to maintain agricultural production without creating a high additional cost or leading to more expensive food, the Spanish government said.

The extraordinary aid is set out in Article 50 of Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 of 20 March, under the Comprehensive Response Plan to the Middle East crisis. The European Union Council gave final approval at the end of July to exceptional measures addressing rising costs of fertilisers and other raw materials linked to the Middle East crisis.

The mechanism provides for European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development co-financing of up to 65%, with member states able to add up to 200% in further funding to speed up awards and reduce administrative procedures.

Primary sources: govern.cat, portaljuridic.gencat.cat. Reported by elnacional.cat, democrata.es, prodelta.cat, EFE, viaempresa.cat.