site.btaKey Agricultural Sector Priorities Outlined at National Grain Producers Association’s Seminar in Albena

Bulgaria’s Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov Thursday outlined the main priorities for agricultural sector during the National Grain Producers Association’s (NGPA) 13th national agro seminar, held in the seaside resort of Albena. This year’s seminar, mottoed "Agriculture in Restart," was opened by NGPA Chair Ilia Prodanov.

Tahov said that all funds allocated to the sector will be paid out by the end of the year. This includes the first tranche of basic income support for sustainability, worth over BGN 600 million. Final payments will be made once all checks are completed, he noted, adding that the total budget for this intervention is BGN 775 million.

He also said that the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) will not raise its fees. "The BFSA needs more time for talks with businesses and for a smoother transition," the minister noted.

Irrigation remains a top priority, Tahov said. At the most recent meeting of the Council of Ministers, a decision was made to increase the capital of Irrigation Systems by more than BGN 26 million, which will be used to restore key infrastructure.

The Minister said that excise duty compensation will be paid on schedule. More than 15,000 applications have been submitted, and the final transfer of funds now depends on the National Customs Agency. "Farmers will receive the money by December 20," Tahov said.

Tahov voiced strong opposition to the European Commission’s proposal to merge the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) into a single national plan. "Bulgaria insists that the CAP remain an independent policy with its own budget," he said, arguing that merging it into a common fund would create administrative burdens, reduce flexibility, increase the risk of poor planning, and lead to uncertainty for farmers.

The Minister outlined several priorities for 2026. The Ministry plans to launch eleven calls for funding worth more than EUR 440 million, support technological modernization of farms, expand irrigated land to at least 200,000 hectares by 2028, build new hail-protection systems, promote cooperation, and work actively on the next CAP framework for 2028–2034.

The National Grain Producers Association said that Bulgarian farmers are operating in a state of constant uncertainty, which has become a permanent reality rather than a temporary phenomenon. The organization noted that debate on reforms, predictability, and stability is crucial for the sector’s future. "Let 2026 be the year of decisions," Prodanov said.