A large-scale working meeting was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food with the participation of leading experts from the institution and representatives of industry organizations. Led by Minister Dr. Georgi Takhov, the participants - including Deputy Ministers Dr. Lozana Vasileva, Ivan Kapitanov, Yanislav Yanchev, and the Director of "Irrigation Systems" AD Snezhina Dineva - held in-depth consultations with the leadership of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Bulgaria.
The central focus of the discussion was the opportunities for financing and modernization of the agricultural sector. Minister Takhov emphasized the strategic importance of European investments, announcing that for the period 2024-2028, 1.5 billion leva will be specifically allocated for the completion of six key dams. Additional attention was paid to attracting young specialists, with a recently signed agreement with the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy ensuring active student involvement in sectoral projects.
Among the specific achievements of the meeting were legislative changes to the Water Act, which provide for a drastic reduction in costs for agricultural producers - by about 80%. Snezhina Dineva presented details about the irrigation of the Gorni Dabnik dam, emphasizing the need to ensure additional pressure for irrigating corn crops.
Another significant discussion point was countering natural disasters, specifically fighting hail. Deputy Minister Kapitanov revealed plans to build a command center east of Pleven, including selecting positions for missile platforms. Minister Takhov added that the successful French-Spanish model with silver iodide generators, which will not interfere with air traffic, will be applied.
As a result of negotiations with the European Commission, the ministry achieved an increase of 30 million euros for the technological and ecological modernization procedure. The additional funds, together with the available resources, will allow the approval of 287 new projects, with the deadline for implementation extended to March 2026.
Upcoming steps include review and approval by the Council of the European Union, followed by amendment of the financial agreement and publication of updated application guidelines. Criteria for selecting agricultural investment projects are also being prepared.
Ventsislav Varbanov, chairman of AZPB, described the meeting as extremely productive, expressing gratitude for the constructive dialogue between institutions and industry organizations.