From today, March 23 until June 9, 2026 inclusive, agricultural producers will be able to submit applications for support under direct payments for Campaign 2026. This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Hristanov at the official opening of the national information campaign, which will cover all regions of the country. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivana Murdjeva. The meetings start from the Plovdiv district, where over 200 farmers were introduced to the new regulations under Campaign 2026.
At the official opening of the discussion, Minister Hristanov said that in the coming weeks, the government's focus will be on the liquidity of agricultural producers, the availability of fuels and nitrogen fertilizers. “We aim to ensure peace of mind. There is currently great concern in the sector regarding liquidity“, said Minister Hristanov. He also pointed out that there is a decapitalization of industries and farms. In front of the farmers, Ivan Hristanov announced that the Ministry and the State Fund “Agriculture“ will do everything possible to ensure that the payments set out in the indicative schedule are implemented. “We will work proactively and proactively so that the payments can be made before the announced dates. The goal is to prevent, given the current geopolitical realities and developments in the situation, an increase in the cost price in any way," the minister added.
He announced that by the end of the week, the issue of fuel prices, nitrogen fertilizers, as well as Bulgaria's reaction, will be discussed with Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, in order to take real action and control the pressure. "The entire cabinet is working to control the effects for Bulgaria. We are part of the European family, part of Europe's common policy, and at the same time there are national specifics that need to be addressed, such as border control. We will continue to protect the interests of the EU and ensure that border control is strict and fulfills the function assigned to it, by strictly monitoring such a large volume of goods that are expected to enter Europe“, Minister Hristanov was categorical.
Regarding the already arrived ships with sunflower, he indicated that talks are underway with the producer and processor sector. Ivan Hristanov assured that the state will in no way allow sunflower or grain with an increased content of pesticides in any form to enter the food chain.
Earlier, Minister Hristanov also commented on current topics in the sector to the media, including the illegal food warehouse in Haskovo, which was discovered at the end of last week.
"A high-ranking figure in the BFSA tried to obstruct inspections of the warehouse in Haskovo. This suggests that there may be a connection with the food mafia", the minister said.
In connection with the upcoming holidays, Minister Hristanov assured that the sale of frozen lamb from military reserves from 1965 will not be allowed on Easter and St. George's Day.
He explained that the inspections for imported and unsuitable food, carried out jointly by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and the Ministry of Interior, will be permanent and preventive, not campaign-based, and will focus on the origin of the meat, eggs and the quality of the refrigerated products.
Regarding prices, the minister informed that a working group will be created to monitor the price matrix of key food groups. Particular attention will be paid to the imbalance, as an example he gave the case of the asymmetry in the price of milk, where there is a large difference between the purchase price from farmers and the price for consumers.