The State Fund Agriculture (SFA) has announced the launch of the emergency "de minimis" aid for farmers in the livestock and crop production sectors for 2026. The application period has been set by an order of the Fund's executive director and runs from September 15 to October 2, 2026. Documents must be submitted to the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO), which are departments under the regional directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
The total approved budget for the program, voted on by the SFA Management Board, amounts to 42,600,000 euros. The purpose of this financial injection is to support farmers by covering a portion of their production costs for the 2026 calendar year in response to the serious difficulties faced by the industry. The intention to implement this measure was hinted at as early as the beginning of July by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Plamen Abrovski. At that time, he emphasized to the media that, provided resources were secured, the priority would be the liquidity of farms given their dire financial state.
The mechanism is applied in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/3118. In compliance with these regulatory requirements, the ceiling for "de minimis" aid that a single enterprise can receive over a three-year period cannot exceed 50,000 euros. Detailed instructions for implementing the scheme are published on the official SFA website, where they can be found under the "Support Schemes and Measures" heading, in the "de minimis" section, subsection Regulation 2024/3118.
Farmers in the Burgas region can apply for this financial aid through the local municipal agriculture offices.
Financial support is available to livestock farmers raising dairy and beef cows, heifers, buffaloes, ewes, does, and bee colonies. In the crop production sector, support covers producers of greenhouse produce (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, strawberries, and raspberries), potatoes, cultivated mushrooms, oil-bearing roses, and shell fruits (walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts). The approved unit rates for support are as follows:
- Dairy cows included in breeding programs – up to 70 euros;
- Buffaloes – up to 70 euros;
- Cows of endangered breeds – up to 60 euros;
- Dairy cows – up to 60 euros;
- Cattle in mountainous areas – up to 60 euros;
- Beef cows included in breeding programs – up to 50 euros;
- Beef cows – up to 35 euros;
- Ewes and/or does included in breeding programs – up to 11 euros;
- Ewes and/or does of endangered breeds – up to 11 euros;
- Ewes and/or does in mountainous areas – up to 8 euros;
- Ewes and/or does under Transitional National Aid – up to 8 euros;
- Bee colony – up to 6 euros;
- Greenhouse produce (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, strawberries, and raspberries) in heated greenhouses – up to 4,000 euros/ha;
- Greenhouse produce (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, strawberries, and raspberries) in unheated greenhouses – up to 2,000 euros/ha;
- Potatoes – up to 700 euros/ha;
- Oil-bearing rose – up to 500 euros/ha;
- Cultivated mushrooms – up to 10 euros/sq. m;
- Shell fruits (walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts) – up to 300 euros/ha.