FARMERS FROM BULGARIA’S BLAGOEVGRAD REGION STAGED A PROTEST

Farmers and stockbreeders from the region of Blagoevgrad, South-West Bulgaria, staged a protest on the road to Kulata border crossing on 8th of March. They complain about an Order issued by the caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Foods, Hristo Bozukov, that provides for stopping the acceptance of applications for support under Measure 10 "Agri-environment and climate" and measure 11 " Organic farming" for the new programme period.

Under the changes introduced through the Order, applications for support are not allowed for farmers who so far have not received funding under the two measures or farmers, whose contracts have expired and they want to renew them.

In addition, farmers who have signed contracts will not be allowed to expand the areas they cultivate. Before the changes, the legislation provided for a possibility to increase the area of the land they cultivated by up to 10 hectares per year.

The new order sets out that funding will be available only to farmers who have already signed contracts under the two measures and they have not expired yet.

The protesting farmers demand an urgent meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Foods to discuss the issue and seek solution.

If no agreement is reached, the farmers say they are ready for a long-term protest and blockades on E-79 road on the route to Kulata border crossing.