site.btaTroyan Registers as Farm Producer to Expand Its Fruit, Vegetable Growing Project

Troyan is the first Bulgarian municipality registered as a farm producer, Mayor Donka Mihailova told BTA. Some of the produce is used in the town's social care establishments and social projects.

"Troyan was the first Bulgarian municipality to start producing fruits, vegetables, honey, spices in an environmentally friendly way, without chemicals, and use the produce in kindergartens and nurseries. This required us to go through a lot of administrative procedures, one of which was register as a farm producer. It's a bit of a strange requirement of the law: to have to register to work our own land and use the produce in creches and schools, but the rules have to be followed," Mihailova added.

The municipality is also a registered honey producer. "We are proud to report that according to an analysis by the Regional Health Inspectorate, our children are getting healthier: fewer of them are obese and the number of diabetic children is decreasing. We believe that this is the result of healthy eating and physical activity," the mayor said.

The farming programme of Troyan Municipality started a few years ago with a plum orchard which was followed by an apple orchard. "Gradually we got inspired to build greenhouses. We started with the production of greens, onions, radishes, then tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers. The idea of creating a potato field was also born. Local beekeepers provided us with bee colonies to start our own honey production. This year we added spices to the list of our produce," added Mihailova.

All this is taken care of by two people, and in busier periods more farm workers are hired. Often, municipal administration employees and local children also help, the mayor said.