site.btaAgriculture Minister: Farmers to Receive 49 Mln Levaunder De Minimis Aid Programme

August 4 (BTA) - Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Desislava Taneva announced at a briefing here on Tuesday that Bulgarian farmers will receive a total of 49 million leva in financial assistance under a de minimis aid programme.

The stock breeding sector will receive over 25 million leva, over 6,000 beekeepers will receive almost 5 million leva, and growers of fruits and vegetables - almost 19 million leva.

Taneva pointed out that Bulgaria has made the most of all the opportunities provided by the European Commission, and that this country's initiative to find additional funding to counter the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has ensured a total budget of over 106 million leva for Bulgarian producers and processors.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday during a meeting with represenatives of branch organizations in the fruit and vegetable sector, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that the government will set aside about 19 million leva to assist growers of fruits, vegetables and vines, as well as rose oil producers, the government press service reported. The meeting was also attended by Agriculture Minister Taneva.

The subsidy from Cabinet is granted as a de minimis measure to cover losses caused by drought and additional expenses related to the COVID- pandemic. The aid will reach up to 25,000 beneficiaries.

Borissov stressed the importance to immediately assist those sectors that are facing bankruptcy. He also said that additional options will be sought to subsidize farmers affected by the pandemic through the Bulgarian Development Bank.

Taneva informed Borissov and the branch representatives that applications for the COVID-19 emergency measure under the Rural Development Programme will start in mid-August, and all farmers will be able to apply. The subsidy will amount to 106 million leva, according to the government press service. RY/MT
/МЙ/