site.btaSupport for Farmers Must be Prioritized through Comprehensive Measures to Prevent Inflation - President Iotova

Agriculture is among the sectors hardest hit by the crisis in the Middle East due to rising fuel and raw material prices, therefore government measures must be comprehensive and focused on supporting Bulgarian producers, President Iliana Iotova said here on Thursday. Neither speculation nor increases in food prices should be allowed, especially given the upcoming Easter holidays, she also said at a  meeting with caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Hristanov and his team. 

State Fund Agriculture Executive Director Iva Ivanova also participated in the conversation, the head of State's press office reported.

Minister Hristanov assured the President that the country’s food security is guaranteed and that the financial resources earmarked for farmers are being distributed promptly to ensure liquidity in the sector.

Delayed, piecemeal compensation will not yield the desired result, Iotova underscored. She added that the caretaker government’s measures to support households and businesses, as well as the activities of the newly established Crisis Management Team for Commodity and Fuel Prices, must take into account the complex nature of the effects of the conflict in the Middle East. 

"At this stage, we have a secure supply of fuel and nitrogen fertilizers, but we do not have stable prices. That is why preventive measures are needed to mitigate the impact on the final prices of goods," Iotova added. She expressed concern that there is no reliable mechanism for monitoring pricing at every stage of the supply chain, from production to the market. 

President Iotova is counting on the Agriculture Ministry to draft proposals in support of Bulgarian production in the medium term, which she will leave to the next regular cabinet. 

During the meeting, issues related to EU policies in the agricultural sector were discussed, with a focus on cohesion policy, which is of paramount importance to Bulgaria.