Bulgaria will pay €170m in aid to farmers under two schemes, farm minister Plamen Abrovski told BTA. The money is for farmers hit by higher fuel and fertiliser prices because of the crisis in the Middle East. Fuel payments, about €100m, will come first. Fertiliser payments will follow.
The European Commission approved the aid, known as the "Iran aid". About 14,000 farmers are expected to apply under the fuel scheme, the minister said. The money compensates for the big rise in fuel prices.
The second scheme covers fertilisers, and all farmers can apply. The rest of the €170m is meant for nearly 41,000 farms.
Under EU rules, one recipient cannot get more than €50,000 from the Iran aid, the ministry said in a statement to BTA in mid-September. Payments must end by the end of 2026. The State Fund Agriculture published a sample schedule for them a few days ago.
Abrovski was a guest of honour at the 11th National Walnut Festival, which he opened in the village of Golyamo Dryanovo, Kazanlak municipality.
He said nut growers are the most market-oriented and most successful farmers. They are the only ones who get just the basic payment, based on the area they farm, with no other subsidies.
The minister first visited the festival three years ago and was impressed even then by what the organisers had done. "The festival in Golyamo Dryanovo is a unique festival," he told BTA.
The festival shows that "we have living villages, living rural areas, producers and craftsmen," Abrovski said at the opening.