2024-01-04 11:12:42
In the first days of 2024, we decided to mark the expectations of the branch organizations to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev and to the Ministry itself for the important things that must be done.
That’s why we looked for industry experts to say what they need and expect the minister and the ministry to do for the sector.
Ventsislav Varbanov, chairman of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Bulgaria:
Better attitude and talks on how to get through the crisis no serious damage
“The minister needs to improve his attitude towards agricultural organizations and learn to talk to us to hear what we want to tell him. Because we don’t always want support, it’s often about regulations that need to be changed.
It is a difficult period at the moment, because some manufacturers have not yet settled with suppliers and lessors. At the same time, although the European Commission has extended the deadline for the payment of the Ukrainian aid, the national budget does not provide funds for it this year.
There are many things to do in the field. We will request a formal meeting to talk to the minister about how to get through the crisis without serious damage. We are constantly writing various opinions and sending them. But for a good communication, it is not even necessary to have a physical meeting. All it takes is desire.
Whether 2024 will be better or more difficult than 2023 largely depends on the natural and climatic conditions. In this crisis, the lack of resources is palpable. Support from the European Union has also been reduced. The new requirements are quite complex and against the backdrop of a reduced budget. I will not be surprised if some farmers cannot meet the new conditions and are left without support.
Last year, after an increase in the price of irrigation water, the wise and effective decision was made to pay the state 80% of the water used. This state aid had a positive role in the areas where it was irrigated. As far as I understand, this is not planned for this year. However, we will continue to we expect and we insist that this becomes a tradition, which will provoke more people to water.
We wanted a resource to be invested in the Strategic Plan for the restoration of the irrigation facilities, but we were not heard. This is one of the ways to be more competitive – something that the minister repeats as a recommendation. If we compare ourselves to our Ukrainian colleagues, where everything is cheaper, there is no way we can be competitive with them, all other things being equal.”
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