site.btaAgriculture Ministry to Seek Activation of Crisis Reserve in Support of Bulgarian Grain Farmers

The Agriculture Ministry will seek activation of the European crisis reserve in support of Bulgarian grain farmers, Agriculture Minister Yavor Gechev said here Wednesday. He was speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Grain Producers after country-wide protests of grain producers against what they claim to be uncontrolled grain import from Ukraine. "Bulgarian agricultural producers have our full support for the problems they are experiencing," Gechev said.

As part of a package of food security plan with EUR 500 million in crisis aid, EU farmers will receive up to EUR 1.5 billion in aid through a crisis reserve and can produce food on land set aside for biodiversity.

Grain growers handed the Minister a declaration with their demands and expressed fears over imports of sunflower and wheat.

The Minister said that he had ordered doubling the tests on sunflower and wheat imports "to protect the health of Bulgarian people".

Local grain producers say that imported grain is not up to the high quality standards of the local produce.

Gechev said that "Bulgaria has acted in solidarity with Ukraine but Bulgarian farmers suffered serious losses".

The problems in the grain sector will be discussed by the Advisory Board for Grain next week. The Minister said that the National Revenue Agency and the Customs Agency will be asked to send representatives to the meeting.

He urged the farmers to alert the authorities when they suspect violations of the tax and customs rules.