"We have the potential to feed 30 million people, but we are only 6 million. At the same time, we import 80% of fruits and vegetables. This is a shame!". This was stated by former Minister of Agriculture Kiril Vatev in the studio of Eurocom.
"We had 11 million sheep, and today I don't know if their number is not 1 million. There are not a few people who still think that the planes that spray preparations over agricultural crops vaccinate them against coronavirus or whooping cough." ;, Vatev also said. He emphasized that we do not have well-structured branch organizations in agriculture.
"Romania made cooperative agriculture, while we have a permit regime for Greece to use our waters from Arda, Struma and Mesta. Our country must definitely provide our farmers with water for irrigation," said Kiril Vatev harshly.
He also explained how what he called "subsive breeders" are one of the big problems of native agriculture.
"These people produce nothing or very little, and register as farmers only to receive subsidies. So a lot of money goes to them, not to the real farmers," said the former Minister of Agriculture.
According to Vatev, if we do not cleanse our agriculture of parasites, we will starve after a while, the former minister predicted.
According to him, it is not logical for most of the obligations of the people in our country to have deadlines and fines in case of non-fulfilment, but for the state administration there are none.
He cited an example from his presence in the ministry. A farmer's file was delayed for months by ministry officials, and without their signature, the man could not start an important irrigation project. Vatev received the email from the stranger, checked the case and in just a day the file was sent.
"And how many people remain waiting for the favor of an official and are forced to give up or give bribes", he pointed out.