The National Association of Grain Producers has reacted sharply to the European Parliament's decision to increase tariffs on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus, reports BNR.
Bulgarian farmers fear that this will lead to a drastic jump in fertilizer prices, as well as mass bankruptcies.
We recall that MEPs agreed to gradually increase tariffs on fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus into the European Union. The news came shortly after Brussels approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia earlier this week following the start of the war in Ukraine.
The day before the vote, the Association of Grain Producers in Bulgaria sent a second letter to Bulgarian MEPs asking for a more flexible approach and solutions that would ease the blow to farmers from the expected higher fertilizer prices following the new punitive duties.
The association's chairman, Iliya Prodanov, indicated that the letter requested a one-year deferral, automatic safeguard mechanisms in the event of price spikes, financial compensation for producers and incentives for alternative fertilizers. However, the letter was not taken into account and now farmers are predicting higher fertilizer prices from July 1 and bankruptcies due to the lack of time for farmers to adapt.
The largest farmers' organization in Europe, Copa Cogeca, also takes this position, according to which these measures will increase fertilizer prices by at least 45 euros per ton for the next season. This will be a serious financial pressure on farmers and the consequences for agricultural production, competitiveness and farmers' incomes could be catastrophic, the European farmers' organization warns.