Government funding for scrappage of farm and earth-moving equipment under a decree published on March 20 last year came to €78.7 million to cover over 14,000 requests. Around €20 million was earmarked last Spring and a further €59 million in November.
Figures from UNACOMA, the professional association of Italy’s agricultural and earth-moving equipment makers, showed that almost 8,488 scrappage requests were received for tools and equipment, accounting for 60% of the total. The 3,605 requests covering tractors accounted for a further 26%, while earth-moving machinery accounted for 483 requests (3%), combine harvesters 263 (2%), and equipment not falling under the main categories 1,232 (9%).
In terms of the funding assigned, tractors with over €31 million and 40% of the total came in just ahead of tools, with €30.7 million and 39%. Earth-moving machinery, combine harvesters and unclassified under the main categories took about 7% each.
“The equipment makers moved swiftly and effectively,” commented Massimo Goldoni, UNACOMA’s president. “They managed to obtain a significant share of the funds assigned to the various sectors of production, above all by showing agriculture’s real need to update its largely obsolete fleet of machines with the new generation.”
“That is why manufacturers will continue to foster proposal and plans which can incentivize the renovation of our rolling stock with a special attention to safety and environmental issues”, concluded Goldoni.
Source: Unacoma
