Speaking at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg, caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov warned that Bulgarian farmers are facing significant pressure, suggesting they are forced to choose between reduced yields or elevated prices without adequate crisis funding. The core challenge highlighted by Hristanov relates to the escalating costs of fertilizers and fuels, which have been exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East. The rising input costs are severely impacting the agricultural sector.
Specifically, diesel fuel prices in Bulgaria increased by approximately 37% between February and early April, while mineral fertilizers saw a rise of about 30%. These increases coincide with the crucial spring sowing season, thereby raising production expenses and undermining the competitiveness of Bulgarian farming operations. Furthermore, Hristanov drew attention to the dairy market, noting that domestic milk purchase prices have dropped to EUR 0.27 despite rising operational costs.
To address these issues, the Bulgarian delegation advocates for the full utilization of all instruments available under the Common Market Organisation, including the agricultural reserve and measures for temporary voluntary production reductions. Hristanov stressed that unused funds allocated under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) interventions must be swiftly accessible for emergency support during periods of production cost shocks. Regarding the future structure of the CAP, the Minister argued that any degressive reduction in support must not undermine competitiveness.
He contended that proposed thresholds are insufficiently high and could negatively affect small and medium-sized farms, which are vital for both food security and rural economic vitality. Hristanov also emphasized the need for comprehensive external convergence of direct payments. Finally, concerning sustainable forest management, he called for integrated, preventive approaches to wildfire prevention, incorporating practices such as agroforestry and extensive grazing systems.
Topics: #agriculture #bulgarian #hristanov
It sounds like Bulgarian farmers are in a difficult spot with no clear path forward regarding funding.