Bulgarian farmers take to the streets to protest mounting challenges in agricultural sector

(5 Feb 2024) RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Sofia - 5 February 2024 1. Minchev family farmers with calf protesting in front of Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture 2. Wide of protest with scattered hay in front 3. Various of farmers pouring milk on burning hay 4. Family of farmers watching burning hay holding posters reading (in Bulgarian) “We want humane treatment of farmers.” “I want to be a farmer in Bulgaria” 5. Close of a week-old calf from Minchevs’ family farm 6. Farmers hold Bulgarian and EU flag and a poster reading (in Bulgarian) “Resignation” 7. Close of poster 8. Protesters 9. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Ventsislav Varbanov, Chairman of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Bulgaria: “Let me remind you that our interests were not protected, neither by the Ukrainian goods that flooded us, nor was the budget secured for us for the losses we suffered because of the war in Ukraine. Imagine how our interests are protected then in the EU, because we hear the minister saying that he is not to blame for the protests in France and Germany, nor for the Green Deal and so on.” 10. Farmer holding poster reading (in Bulgarian) “There is money for Ukraine, but there is NO money for agriculture” 11. Police standing guard in front of Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture 12. Protester listening and hold Bulgarian flag 13. Farming family hold posters 14. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Dimka Mincheva, Bulgarian farmer from the village of Naydenovo: “We don’t have a day off. We work 24 hours a day. The farmer has many duties. We ask for financial support to make it bearable. Just as there are high requirements for the care we take for animals: with what food and under what conditions, so we want the conditions and rights for the farmer to be defined.” 15. Various of farmers blocking a main boulevard is Sofia’s city centre STORYLINE: Hundreds of angry farmers took to the streets of Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, on Monday to complain of what they call “the total failure” of the government to meet mounting challenges in the agricultural sector. They called for the Minister of Agriculture to step down for not keeping his promise to ease the administrative burden on the farming sector, to seek state compensations for high costs and falling incomes. Like their colleagues elsewhere in Europe, Bulgarian farmers are frustrated with domineering EU regulations, the hardships stemming from the surge in fertilizer and energy costs because of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the increasing imports of farm products that are flooding local markets and undercutting prices. Ventsislav Varbanov, who chairs the Association of Agricultural Producers, complained that instead of seeking relief for Bulgaria’s farmers the government is adding more undue burdens and failing to come up with-term policies for the sector. Meanwhile, the grain producers’ association announced that they might join the protests on Tuesday by blocking main roads with their farming vehicles. They expressed discontent with a statement made by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov - in response to their demands for compensation - that only grain producers who can prove a loss for 2023 will receive financial support. AP video shot by Valentina Petrova =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel 44(0)2074827482 Email: info@. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: