site.btaMajor Tobacco Buyers Quit Bulgarian Market - Agriculture Minister

Major Tobacco Buyers Quit Bulgarian Market - Agriculture Minister

Kurdjali, Southern Bulgaria, March 16 (BTA) - Major tobacco buyers are exiting the Bulgarian market, while smaller companies are buying smaller quantities, Agriculture and Food Minister Hristo Bozukov told reporters in Kurdjali.

Bozukov and Deputy Agriculture Minister Svetla Yancheva participated in a working meeting on key agricultural policies in Bulgaria and the EU and the prospects of tobacco growing.

Bozukov said that without dramatic changes in that sector, "we will see the end of this production in Bulgaria". First, adequate policy is needed, he said, citing Greece as an example. He said the Ministry was seeking agreements with China where Greece, Turkey and Macedonia are already selling Oriental tobacco.

The Tobacco Advisory Board, made up of tobacco growers and Agriculture Ministry and business representatives, is meeting on Friday.