State Fund “Agriculture” (DFZ) transferred BGN 70 million (BGN 69,989,660) to 38,206 farmers under the scheme for transitional national aid for tobacco. Financial support approved by the Fund’s Management Board has been paid in full for Campaign 2022 to growers who grew the Kaba Kulak, Burley, Virginia and Basmi varietal groups during the reference period 2007-2009.
The amount of support was discussed with the branch at the Tobacco Advisory Board, held on January 17, 2023. The rates were determined by Order of the Minister of Agriculture. These remain the same as for the previous two years as the approved budget under the Campaigns 2020-2022 scheme is the same.
In the “Basmi” variety group, for quantities up to 1 ton inclusive, farmers receive support of BGN 2.07/kg (BGN 1.34 + BGN 0.73). For the same variety group, but for quantities over 1 ton to 2 tons, the aid is BGN 2.01/kg (BGN 1.34 + BGN 0.67), and for production over 2 tons – BGN 1.34 each ./kg. For the “Kaba Kulak” variety, tobacco producers with delivered and purchased quantities of more than 2 tons during the reference period receive BGN 1.05/kg. The national payment for the “Burley” variety is BGN 0.77/kg, and for “Virginia” – BGN 0.61/kg.
Transitional national aid for tobacco has been implemented since 2015. The financial support is paid according to the provisions of Ordinance No. 3 on the terms and conditions for the implementation of the schemes for direct payments. Farmers who have grown tobacco in at least one of the three years included in the reference period 2007-2009 are entitled to support. Their production should be purchased and premiumized in accordance with the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products. When the farmer did not grow tobacco in all the years of the reference period, the aid is determined on the basis of the average annual quantity of purchased tobacco by varietal group for the years during which he grew the crop.