Ombudsperson Maya Manolova Met with Protesting Rose Producers

Rose-growers from Strelcha protested on 21^st of May against the low purchase price of the oil-yeilding rose flowers. They temporarily blocked the traffic on Strelcha - Koprivshtitsa road for two hours. In the region, 80% of the rose fields belong to small producers, which grow roses on an area from one to three decares.

At the moment, they are affected by lower purchase prices. They argue that the agreement between the Association of Rose Producers and Essential Oils and the Minister of Agriculture Rumen Porozhanov yesterday, 20^th of May, is only in the interest of the big farmers who grow hundreds of decares with oil-yeilding rose. This opinion was also expressed by the ombudsperson Maya Manolova, who met with rose producers from Sopot and Karlovo regions.

She said she would alert the Commission for the Protection of Competition over a cartel agreement between distilleries. Manolova advised the owners to register immediately as agricultural producers in order to receive the aid promised by the state.