"We anticipate that farmers with land losses of less than 80% due to drought will be compensated de minimis," Bulgarian Agriculture, Food and Forestry Minister Desislava Taneva said during a meeting with agricultural producers in Sliven. He added that data from the full harvest are currently being analyzed.

According to her, two options for a state aid mechanism will be discussed. One is to compensate for all areas lost above 80% due to drought, and the second only for those farmers who have a 30% decrease in yields. "For wheat, we know where and in which regions the average yield has decreased by more than 30% compared to the last 5 years. These are the districts of Dobrich, Varna, Sliven, Burgas, Yambol, Silistra and Shumen. by the end of October, when it is possible to decide on additional compensation, it will be in the range of about 8 to 10 million cams, "said Minister Taneva. He clarified that in this regard, a Report was also prepared on the effect of the impact of the main agrometeorological factors on the development and yields of the main extensive crops of the country in the period 2019-2020 by the Academy of Agriculture.

During the meeting, Minister Desislava Taneva said that next week the SFA Board of Directors will vote on a grant of BGN 4.6 million for areas that have fallen 100% due to drought, frost, hail and other effects of climate. These will be implemented under a system of state aid: "Aid to compensate for damage to crops caused by adverse climatic events that can be assimilated to natural disasters." He explained that all the protocols had already been processed. The completely destroyed areas are 14.3 hectares and those below 100% are 119.3 million hectares.

Speaking to Sliven farmers, Snezhana Angelova, director of SFA's "Technical Inspection" department, announced that the Fund will begin inspections of intermediate crops on October 12 and after October 15 on the basis of conditionality. Areas affected by drought will be controlled for crop planting. "It will be about planting the intermediates and it will be done in a documentary way. The aim is to prevent as much as possible the consequences of the drought for farmers," Angelova explained.

The meeting was attended by agricultural producers from the districts of Sliven, Burgas, Yambol and Stara Zagora. The main topic was an explanation of the parameters of the new common agricultural policy for the period 2021-2027. “We are already at an advanced stage and we are discussing the details of how to schedule direct payments, how to make a green architecture adapted to our type of production and our farmers. We want everything to be easy for them so they can protect their payments. They will be larger in the new programming period, but with the achievement of higher objectives, especially with regard to land use planning and environmental protection, "said the Minister of Agriculture.

The meeting was also attended by Maria Hristova, Vice President of the Coordination Unit for the elaboration of the Strategic Plan of the new CAP. He briefed farmers on our country's progress in preparing the document and details of the new improved conditionality and the framework for ecological plans.