site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian Farmers Remain Ready to Protest

Bulgarian farmers remain ready to protest, representatives of branch organisations told a press conference on Monday at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia. They are waiting for local structures to decide whether they accept the government's proposed support measures at a meeting at the Council of Ministers on Sunday. At the meeting with Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Agriculture and Food Minister Kiril Vatev and Deputy Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski, the government presented proposals to support farmers.

At a briefing after Sunday's meeting, Denkov said that only grain producers who can prove a loss for 2023 will receive financial support. He said that farmers should submit declarations to the National Revenue Agency by the end of February.

National Grain Producer Association (NGPA) Chair Iliya Prodanov said that as of now the farmers' planned protest for Tuesday has not been cancelled, but "the most important topic - funding" was discussed. He noted that the meeting also discussed legislative initiatives that would solve the problems in the long term.

Prodanov added that Sunday evening NGPA's Board of Directors and the Agrarian Chamber board meetings were held and all local structures were informed. They are gathering on Monday and deciding what action will be taken.

Also on Monday, representatives of over 20 agricultural organisations gathered in front of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, demanding the resignation of Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev. The protest is in response to the major challenges in the sector in recent months.

Former Agriculture Minister and Bulgarian Association of Agricultural Producers Chair Ventsislav Varbanov said that upon taking office Vatev had asked for the sector's views on the administrative burdens that were disrupting work to be presented to him within three days. All organisations had submitted their views, but so far nothing had been done. According to Varbanov, instead of being eased, these burdens are increasing.

According to him, farmers' current problems are not the legislative changes, but the lack of money, the pressure of Ukrainian imports and the government's complete misunderstanding of the sector's challenges. "We want long-term policy, we want to know what will be in tomorrow, in the next year, in the next 5 years," Varbanov said.

The 7 days old calf named Kiril was also part of the protest. Farmers set straw on fire in front of the ministry and put it out with milk.