Speaking at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg, Bulgarian caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov warned that the lack of crisis funding places Bulgarian farmers in a difficult economic position. According to the Agriculture Ministry, the primary challenge for EU producers stems from escalating costs associated with fertilizers and fuels, exacerbated by the Middle East conflict. Hristanov highlighted that in Bulgaria, diesel fuel prices increased by approximately 37% between February and early April, while mineral fertilizers rose by about 30%.
These increases coincide with the critical spring sowing period, significantly inflating production costs and undermining the competitiveness of the nation’s agricultural sector. Furthermore, the minister noted the precarious state of the dairy market, where domestic milk purchase prices have fallen to EUR 0.27 despite rising operational expenses. The Bulgarian delegation advocates for the full utilization of instruments available under the Common Market Organisation, including the agricultural reserve and mechanisms for temporary voluntary production reductions.
A key demand from Hristanov is that unused funds from Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) interventions must be readily available for emergency support during periods of production cost shocks, stressing the need for swift disbursement. Regarding the future structure of the CAP, the minister cautioned that any degressive reduction in support must not compromise competitiveness. He argued that current proposed thresholds are overly restrictive, potentially harming small and medium-sized farmers vital to food security.
Additionally, Hristanov called for full external convergence of direct payments. Finally, concerning sustainable forest management, he advocated for integrated, preventive wildfire strategies involving local communities, alongside practices like agroforestry and extensive grazing systems.
Topics: #agriculture #bulgarian #hristanov
