site.btaGrain Association Braces for National Protests, Demands Resignations of Agriculture Ministry Leadership

The National Association of Grain Producers (NAGP) is beginning preparations for national protests in defence of Bulgarian grain producers. The Association is withdrawing its trust in the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and is calling for the resignations of Agriculture Minister Georgi Tahov , Deputy Minister Ivan Kapitanov, and Petya Slavcheva Deputy Executive Director of the State Fund Agriculture, due to unfulfilled commitments and a complete lack of political will to resolve the problems in the sector. The Association announced this on Thursday, and published a  declaration addressed to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. 

The Association justifies its demands with systematic failures - from unlawful refusals to pay funds under the eco-schemes for Campaign 2023 to numerous farmers without notification letters, to inadequate actions against pests affecting corn and sunflower crops, and the absence of timely policies to address the consequences of drought, as well as the lack of modernization in irrigation and water usage. However, the most serious issue remains the lack of initiative and progress regarding key legislative changes, as no subsidy can have such a long-term impact as sustainable reforms in land relations and the adoption of a law on professional organizations. 

In order to save the grain production sector, the Association insists on immediate action regarding legislative changes, including the introduction of long-term land consolidation to encourage investment in new technologies; resolving issues related to the management of lands from the State Land Fund; ending the practice of short-term contracts and ensuring predictability for sustainable practices; the creation of a real instrument for representation and protection of the sector. 

The Association will steadfastly defend its demands until real actions are taken in favor of the sector, especially in times of shaken public trust in institutions, when accountability is more necessary than ever.