site.btaEight Farming Organizations Back Agriculture Minister Tahov, Call for Stability in Sector

Eight agricultural producer organizations have voiced their firm support for Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov, according to an open letter received by BTA. The signatories include the Fruit and Vegetable Branch Chamber, the Bulgarian Association of Raspberry and Berry Growers, the Bulgarian Greenhouse Growers' Association, the Bulgarian National Tobacco Growers' Association-2010, the Bulgarian Rice Association, the Bulgarian National Association Essential oils, Perfumery and Cosmetics, National Organic Association, and the National Association of Nut Producers and Processors in Bulgaria.

The organizations said that the calls for Minister Tahov’s resignation, voiced by two other industry groups, lack professional justification and are driven by self-serving motives and personal interests.

Earlier in the day, the National Grain Producers Association announced plans to stage protests nationwide, withdrawing its confidence in the leadership of the Agriculture and Food Ministry and calling for the resignations of Minister Georgi Tahov, Deputy Minister Ivan Kapitanov, and Petya Slavcheva, Deputy Executive Director of the State Fund Agriculture, citing unfulfilled commitments and a complete lack of political will to address sectoral problems.

Also on Thursday, the National Sheep and Goat Breeders’ Association said it, too, has lost confidence in the leadership of the Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and remains in protest readiness, demanding resignations.

In their letter, the eight supporting organizations emphasize that such calls for resignation and incitement to protest at a time when the agricultural sector is facing serious challenges are “harmful, irresponsible, and undermine trust in the institution”. This, they say, makes the future of Bulgarian agricultural production even more uncertain.

According to the signatories, the problems in agriculture have been accumulating for decades and cannot be solved within a single government term or through a change of minister. Each change in the leadership of the Agriculture and Food Ministry causes disruptions, delays in policy implementation, and the blocking of processes that are crucial for producers, the letter says.

The organizations stress that since the beginning of his term, Tahov and his team have demonstrated decisiveness and speed in addressing issues – in fruit and vegetable production, as well as in other branches of crop and livestock farming. They point to legislative initiatives, the provision of financial support during crises, and efforts to restore damaged irrigation infrastructure as examples.

The eight organizations conclude that Tahov has proven himself a consistent advocate for the improvement and development of Bulgarian agriculture, maintaining constructive dialogue with industry stakeholders.