PEACH PRODUCTION IN BULGARIA HAS GONE UP BY 16%

There is 16% increase in peach yield in Bulgaria this year in comparison with 2015, which is due to the larger number of peach growing fields, Bulgaria’s Minister of Agriculture Desilslava Taneva said on 28th of July at the opening of the 15th edition of “Golden Peach” festival in the village of Gavrailovo, the region of Sliven.

Taneva explained that with the proposed changes to the coupled support scheme, the peach producers remained in the group of the most supported fruit from the permanent crops.

"We have introduced modulated rate for the coupled support, according to which all small and medium sized farms will receive higher rate per hectare in the conditions of proven yield," Taneva said. She added that this would contribute to increased income for the agricultural producers and more Bulgarian production on the market. She emphasized that Bulgaria had an increase in all areas of agricultural production.

She highlighted that more than 51% of the peach orchards are located in the so-called “valley of peaches” in the region of Sliven. She noted that in the recent 2 years, the number of producers’ organisations had significantly increased - from 8 to 34.

"I am delighted that the "Golden Peach” festival is becoming bigger every year and for the first time there is an exhibition of agricultural machinery," Minister Taneva said. She congratulated all producers and organizers of the event, saying that the labour of farmers deserved appreciation.