Grain producers in Bulgaria are facing a serious challenge related to the promised 325 million BGN subsidies from the state. They have received the first tranche of 200 million, but the balance of 125 million has been postponed until the end of November. This situation is causing tension in the sector, with farmers remaining on strike alert and demanding a meeting with the finance minister to clarify exactly when they will receive the funds.
"The problems start much earlier. What we are witnessing right now is a storm in a teacup. Everything comes from the lack of clear and concrete communication," said agricultural law lawyer Plamen Abrovski in the studio of "The Day ON AIR".
According to him, the problems start from previous promises and decisions of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, which gave mixed signals to farmers. There was also a similar situation in February where funds were promised but no real action was taken on time.
Farmers feel cheated as they were promised they would get all their funds by the end of September, but now the money is missing from the updated budget. According to Abrovski, the Finance Ministry was aware of the problem before the deadline and could have notified farmers instead of leaving them in the dark.
He emphasized to Bulgaria ON AIR that the sector is extremely vulnerable, and the lack of promised funds could lead to bankruptcies of agricultural producers. In addition to the lack of funds, the problem is compounded by the fact that the European Commission has set a deadline of the end of December for the funds to be released, meaning that if the funds are not secured by then, they may not be received at all.
Abrovski also criticized the lack of long-term policies and reforms in the agricultural sector.
"We have a glaring need for land reform, because what the National Assembly adopted as the last amendments to the Law on the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Lands does not work,'' Abrovski was categorical.