site.bta5th Edition of BATA AGRO International Exhibition Begins

Stara Zagora, Southern Bulgaria, August 26 (BTA) - Minister of Agriculture and Food Vassil Groudev and Vesselin Genev, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Association of Traders in Agricultural Equipment (BATA) opened the fifth edition of the BATA AGRO International Exhibition on Friday. BATA AGRO is the biggest agricultural exhibition in Bulgaria. By August 29, visitors can see state-of-the-art farming equipment and devices, pesticides, fertilizers and seeds.

As of 2015, BATA AGRO will be held twice a year. The next edition will take place from March 4 to 7, Genev said at the opening. The exhibitor-companies number 211, while five years ago they were only 89. The exhibits are shown on an exhibition area of over 32,600 sq m.

Minister Groudev told journalists that the Young Farmer measure will be launched as soon as Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 is approved. Of a total of 2,600 submitted applications within the measure in December 2013, 2,100 have been rejected due to the lack of financial resources. The Minister pointed out that the financial indicators of the Agriculture Ministry are very bad and solutions are currently being sought with the Finance Minister.

Groudev described the situation with the bluetongue disease as dramatic. In his opinion, measures were not taken in due time, which allowed the disease to spread throughout the country.

"Our efforts are focused on containing the disease and I urge all cattle breeders to adhere strictly to the rules and not allow grazing in the night," said Minister Groudev.

The spreading of the diseases could have been contained, had other measures been taken. Vaccination can take place only after the end of the winter period, he explained.