A total of 5,033 compensation claims for frost damage have been submitted by farmers across Bulgaria following the cold weather spell in April, covering over 121,405 hectares, as reported by Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Kapitanov. On Monday, Kapitanov, along with Deputy Minister Yanislav Yanchev, Petar Kirovski from the Directorate of Crop Production, MP Hristo Terziyski, and other officials, inspected frost-hit orchards.
Kapitanov noted that one-third of the checks have already been conducted in the areas where applications were submitted. He emphasized that compensations are reserved for areas in good agricultural condition where crops were entirely damaged. "A check is also being carried out on the current state of the orchards and whether all the necessary agrotechnical measures have been observed," he stated. A second check will assess fruit presence in the orchards.
Kapitanov highlighted the importance of ensuring compliance with the rules, stating, "These are funds from the state budget and we are obliged to make sure as much as possible that the rules have been followed." After the second checks, data will be entered into a permanent crops register, a new initiative by the ministry.
In the Kyustendil district, over 600 applications were submitted, with 219 from the Kyustendil region alone, where damage is nearly 100%. Deputy Minister Yanchev mentioned that communication with the European Commission is ongoing to address support for fruit growers unable to prove produce quantities. By September, a clear indication of the total support budget for affected areas will be available.
Source: Bulgarian News Agency