site.btaFarmers Threaten Fresh Protests

An initiative committee, including 26 branch organizations from the agriculture sector, presented a declaration with demands for salvaging the sector at the BTA National Press Club on Monday. The initiative committee does not support the agreements reached during a series of meetings between representatives of the Bulgarian government and several agricultural organizations.

The organizations of the initiative committee urge for an adequate policy in the sector that protects the interest of all branches and for the immediate resignation of Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev over his failure to address the problems of Bulgarian agriculture and the purposeful division and antagonization of non-governmental organization."

Bulgarian Association of Agricultural Producers Chairman Ventzislav Varbanov said that the press conference gathered those organizations that were not allowed to the negotiations, which according to Minister Vatev "are not real".

"The people who are here provide over 300,000 jobs, 80% of the country's milk and dairy, 30% of its grain, over 70% of its meat products, 100% of its oilseeds and rice. Our associations have been in this field for over 20 years and we have worked all these years in agriculture," Varbanov said.

According to Dimitar Zorov, Chairman of the Bulgaria Association of Dairy Processors and the National Union of Cattle Breeders, the communication with the agriculture ministry is one-sided. He claims that the memorandum signed in September has not been implemented in its entirety.

"We do not agree with 150 million leva for vulnerable sectors," Zorov said, adding that they demand BGN 432 million in aid for sectors affected by war in Ukraine and support of BGN 20 per hectare without limitations on the size of the farm. Zorov also said that they also want policies for sustainability and predictability for the sector.

Boyko Sinapov, Chairman of United Bulgarian Stock Breeders s, said that a national protest will be held at 11 am on Tuesday in front of the Council of Ministers building. Sinapov said that Minister Vatev is dragging the sector into more crises instead of solving them.

Maria Stepancheva, Chair of the Association of Bulgarian Buffalo Breeders, said that the Bulgarian Agrarian Chamber is ruled by a few people and there is a dictatorship on their part.

"The fact that we have gathered here today shows that we have exhausted all possibilities for constructive dialogue with the Agriculture Ministry ", said Zhivka Grozdeva, Chair of the Bulgarian Association of Fruit Growers, according to whom, since the Strategic Plan came into force, everything has been in administrative chaos.

Grozdeva said that in 2023 areas under of fruit and vegetables have decreased and this is not a new trend; that the amount of imports is increasing, and currently about 50% of fruit and vegetables in Bulgaria are imported.
Mariana Miltenova, Chair of the National Union of Gardeners in Bulgaria, said: "Our sector, the production of fruit and vegetables, is facing closure."

Varbanov said that on Monday there are protests at 25 road junctions in the country, and on Tuesday they will continue in Sofia, and from Wednesday protests will continue at these 25 locations. Varbanov said that farmers feel betrayed.