Beekeepers across Bulgaria Rally over Unpaid Subsidies

Beekeepers across the country protested outside the building of the Ministry of Agriculture on 31^st of October. The protesters are unhappy that beekeeping is the only sector that this year will not receive any financial support from the state.

They have demanded that the transition to organic production be extended from one to three years. They are unhappy because beekeepers who have failed to qualify as organic producerss within a period of one year, have not received subsidies.

Shortly after the protest, representatives of branch organizations and honey producers met with Deputy Ministers Tsvetan Dimitrov and Lozana Vassileva. The ministry pledged to seek possibilities for allocation of state aid for beekeepers. Both sides agreed to a new meeting next week.