The loss of demand due to the closure of the catering industry and a strongly reduced tourism hit Bulgarian farmers hard. The government will therefore pay potato growers about €2020 per hectare in support in 500. Retail chains are encouraged to mainly sell locally produced potatoes.
The total subsidy amount that Bulgarian potato growers will receive for the 2020 harvest is 3.707 Bulgarian lev per hectare, reports Agro-messages Abroad† Converted that is € 1.895,50. This amount includes more than €500 in extra support as a result of the corona crisis. The majority of the amount concerns the direct payment from the Common Agricultural Policy. This amount is good for €950 per hectare for the first 30 hectares. Above that, growers are paid €640.
9 species
In addition, a pegged support of €717 and €478 will be paid out. In addition, the REAB area payment, payment for greening and a redistribution payment have been made. In total, 9 different types of state aid are in force for Bulgarian potato growers, including a new scheme due to the corona pandemic.
However, growers find the measures insufficient. Other countries, they say, have dug deeper into their pockets and are pricing Bulgarian potatoes from the European Union market. Various plots are no longer available due to the situation that has arisen harvested† The growers therefore demanded a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture in mid-November about additional measures.
Sales bigger
Sales to the Bulgarian retail chains are marginal, but growing slightly. On November 1, a total of 18.400 tons of Bulgarian product had been sold, compared to only 2019 tons in the entire calendar year 16.881. An adopted decree asks retail chains to sell more local product.
According to the latest figures, the Bulgarian potato harvest this year amounts to more than 167.000 tons. That is an increase of 17,4% compared to last season. Both the yield per hectare and the acreage are higher this year. The cultivation increased by 1,7%, which means that, according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture, the price is lower than a year earlier.
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