State Agriculture Fund (SAF) announced it would start a new credit line to support the autumn sowing for the 2009 harvest, Bulgarian National Radio said. The decision was taken by the SAF management board, an SAF media statement said.

Credits would be granted for the purchase of mineral fertilisers and wheat production. Only registered farmers would be eligible for the credits, which would be limited to 60 leva a hectare. The total amount to available was 22 million leva, but a single farmer could not apply for more than 130 000 leva from the different credit opportunities with the SAF in one year.

Credits would have to be repaid with a three per cent interest before October 1 2009.

Credits would be available until the amount of 22 million leva was exhausted.

Changes in the conditions for applications included the abandonment of the requirement for farmers to submit copies of document of land ownership or a letter of attorney which gives them the right to use the certain land plot.

SAF said it would not grant credits to farmers who outstanding debts or bad credit.

Farmers would be responsible credits are used according to the terms of the credit line. Farmers found abusing the credits by SAF inspectors would be fined.