The Bulgarian government is to allocate a record €560 million budget to ensure the country’s food security in light of the war in Ukraine. According to Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov, this funding is designed to help the sector deal with the fallout of the war in Ukraine which has seen prices for feed, fertilizers and gas soar.
The minister specified that €32.93 million will be allocated for fruit and vegetables, rice and roses. He added that the procedure will be eased and accelerated as much as possible so that farmers can receive the money quickly. However, Bulgarian farmers who keep the largest areas sown with grain are not happy with the support.
Kostadin Kostadinov, chairman of the National Association of Grain Producers, pointed out that the grain producers in Bulgaria were supported neither by the Covid aid, nor by the 60/40 measure of the National Employment Agency. Meanwhile, farmers have also reserved criticism for the government’s slow response in adapting its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plan to the new circumstances.
Source: euractiv.com