FEADER 73.01 — Investments in agricultural businesses ("on farm")

Region: Guadeloupe. 2023–2027 programming period. Official notice version 3, in force since 2 December 2024.

1. Purpose and objective

The 73.01 intervention supports investments that enable Guadeloupe farm businesses to modernise their production tools, improve their competitiveness, diversify their activities and strengthen their economic, climate and health resilience. The notice highlights the structure of local farming: 84% of farms recorded in 2020 were micro-farms with less than €25,000 in standard gross output, and 97% fell into the micro or small farm category. It also notes cash-flow difficulties, agricultural bank under-financing and equipment backlogs.

Objectives: modernise facilities and mechanise farms; improve labour productivity and reduce production costs; support the diversification of crops and activities; develop the processing and marketing of local produce; strengthen water, soil and input management; promote energy savings, renewable energy and the circular economy; support adaptation to climate change and the restoration of production potential after certain natural disasters; improve access conditions to farmland.

2. Types of supported projects

A. Modernisation and mechanisation: machinery and equipment improving labour productivity and harvest monitoring; spreaders and equipment promoting soil fertility; mechanical weeding; machinery optimising or reducing chemical and plant-protection inputs; livestock and effluent management equipment; machinery for fodder production, harvesting and storage; equipment related to diversification and innovative practices. The notice regulates authorised machinery: certain low-power equipment may be purchased by individual farmers, while larger machinery is reserved for certain categories of collective or specialised beneficiaries. Light vehicles and 4x4s are in particular not eligible.

B. Construction and fitting-out of farm buildings: construction, fitting-out or renovation of buildings that contribute to farm performance; livestock buildings; buildings for storing and maintaining equipment; buildings used by CUMA (farm machinery cooperatives); facilities related to diversification; equipment improving effluent management. Certain overheads related to property investments may be eligible within the limits set out in the notice, in particular a cap of 10% of eligible expenditure for the overheads concerned.

C. Planting of perennial crops: purchase and establishment of plant material; disease-free plants from approved nurseries; varieties showing resistance to certain pathogens; soil preparation; permitted inputs and farm work; plantings forming part of diversification. Specific unit costs exist for certain banana plantings: apply the relevant scale according to location and type of planting rather than systematically using actual cost.

D. Irrigation: control equipment, drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, individual reservoirs, boreholes, pumps and supply or distribution networks, subject to technical and regulatory conditions. Specific rates are 80% for certain irrigation investments on farms falling under Article 74 of the European regulation, 100% for infrastructure located outside farms and intended for irrigation, and 65% for other irrigation investments carried out on farms.

E. Energy: investments aimed at energy savings and renewable energy production for the farm's own needs, subject to the nature of the installation, its use and the applicable aid scheme.

F. Processing and marketing: investments in processing and marketing the farm's agricultural production, to increase local added value, modernise equipment and strengthen competitiveness. If the processing produces goods that no longer fall under Annex I of the TFEU, the applicable aid scheme may differ.

G. Roads and access: construction or improvement of farm roads and certain land-improvement infrastructure, provided they meet the relevant objectives and technical criteria.

H. Diversification and agritourism: agritourism, farm-stay hosting and other eligible diversification activities. For the operations concerned, the total cost of expenditure at the time of application must be less than or equal to €250,000 excl. VAT in Guadeloupe excluding rural gîtes, and €500,000 excl. VAT for rural gîtes. The applicant must in particular provide a SIRET number with an APE code matching the activity, be up to date with social security and tax obligations, and demonstrate control over the land.

3. Potential beneficiaries

Farmers, whether individuals or legal entities, including those operating under an agroforestry system; farmer groups; public authorities and their groupings; public bodies; approved land associations (ASA); agricultural land groupings (GFA); farm contracting businesses. Beneficiaries must contribute directly or indirectly to the production of agricultural products within the meaning of Annex I of the TFEU, including newly created businesses.

4. General eligibility conditions

The applicant's registered office must be located in Guadeloupe.
For mobile investments and certain intangible investments, the purpose of the project or the place where the equipment is used must concern the territory of the regional managing authority.
The project must not be physically completed or fully implemented before submission where the incentive principle applies.
For operations exceeding €200,000 excl. VAT, a business development plan must be provided.
For aquaponics, the aquaculture facility must be combined with market-garden production to fall under FEADER in this context. Other conditions depend on the type of investment and the applicable annexes.

5. Minimum amounts and cap

Minimum expenditure for perennial plantings: €5,000 excl. VAT.
Minimum expenditure for other operations: €15,000 excl. VAT.
Maximum total amount of projected expenditure submitted: €4,500,000 excl. VAT.
Interest-free loan (prêt d'honneur) available under the financial instruments: ticket size of €10,000 to €50,000. The €4.5M cap applies to the total projected expenditure submitted, not to the grant amount. The amount of aid depends on the eligible expenditure retained, the applicable rate, State aid rules and selection.

6. Public aid rate

80% for young farmers.
80% for farmers or groups carrying out a collective project.
80% for farmers practising certified organic farming or in conversion.
80% for local authorities or their groupings.
80% for public bodies.
80% for ASAs.
80% for GFAs.
65% for farm contracting businesses.
75% for other beneficiaries. Irrigation investments follow the specific rates set out in point 2.D. The public aid rate is the maximum public funding applicable to the eligible cost. The 85% European aid rate corresponds to FEADER's contribution to public funding, not an additional 85 points.

7. Eligible and ineligible expenditure

Depending on the category, eligible expenditure may include the acquisition or construction of goods and equipment, certain new or second-hand equipment under conditions, overheads related to investments within the applicable caps, certain software, licences, patents and intellectual property rights, as well as the specific planting expenditure set out in the notice. Exclusions or restrictions include in particular fines, sanctions, penalties, legal and litigation costs, recoverable VAT, certain second-hand equipment not meeting the conditions, light vehicles and 4x4s, certain utility vehicles and expenditure expressly excluded for certain project categories. The exact list must be checked in the notice and the annexes corresponding to the project.

8. Financial instruments

The intervention also provides for financial instruments. The notice mentions in particular an interest-free loan (prêt d'honneur) of €10,000 to €50,000. Certain expenditure, such as working capital requirements within regulatory limits or certain property transfer costs, may be concerned. A grant and a financial instrument may be combined for the same operation within the limit of the applicable maximum public aid rate.

9. Budget allocation and submission

The official page consulted shows a budget allocation of €25.7 million in FEADER funds for 2023–2027. Processing may take place through calls for projects or through rolling submission, depending on the type of operation and the arrangements published by the Region. The presence of the intervention in the catalogue does not mean that a particular call is open. Before committing to any expenditure, consult the official page, the notice currently in force and the submission and funding annexes.

10. Points requiring attention

Do not apply the 80% rate to all beneficiaries.
Distinguish the public aid rate from the European co-financing rate.
Check the specific rules for irrigation.
Check the unit costs for certain plantings.
Review the restrictions on farm machinery and vehicles.
For diversification, apply the caps specific to agritourism and rural gîtes.
Do not treat the €4.5M as a guaranteed amount.
Check the timetable and conditions of the call for projects or rolling submission before making any recommendation.

11. Capital OS matching

Offer 73.01 to projects in Guadeloupe involving the purchase of farm machinery, equipment improvements, the construction or renovation of a farm building, perennial plantings, irrigation, energy savings, the processing and marketing of agricultural production, access to plots, agritourism and farm-stay hosting.

Qualification questions:

Is the applicant's registered office in Guadeloupe?
What category does the applicant fall into?
What type of investment?
What is the expenditure amount excl. VAT?
Has the project already started or been completed?
Young farmer, organic farming or collective project?
Irrigation investment and corresponding category?
For diversification, rural gîte or other activity?
Is a development plan, authorisation or proof of land control required?
Is a call open or is rolling submission available for this category? Capital OS must present an indicative range, never promise a grant before the application, expenditure and applicable call have been validated.

Official sources:

FEADER Guadeloupe Region page — Farm investments: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/financement/feader-region-guadeloupe_investissements-exploitations-agricoles/
Notice 73.01, version 3: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Notice73.01.pdf
FEADER Guadeloupe PSR, version 6 applicable from 27 April 2026: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PSR_FEADER_V6.pdf

Written content, currently under editorial review — this is not an eligibility assessment; only your personalised report applies your company's actual criteria.