Farmers promised record payouts as sector reels

Bulgarian agricultural producers will collect more than 1 billion leva through 33 separate funding mechanisms during the 2025 campaign season and additional government assistance programs, Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov announced during a Tuesday ministry session with farming sector representatives. He confirmed that producer support remains the agency’s top objective.

The State Fund Agriculture will release its preliminary payment timeline for 2025 campaign disbursements on Tuesday, Tahov told attendees. Previous year allocations reached approximately 650 million leva distributed across 12 programs, while current plans exceed that scope considerably. Given harsh weather patterns marked by freezing temperatures, hailstorms and insufficient rainfall, authorities will expedite fund transfers, the minister said. More than 14,000 producers will shortly receive subsidies through diesel fuel excise reductions, he added. Additional assistance for operators managing sheep and goats in disease-restricted zones and reimbursement for weather-related losses are forthcoming.

Tahov said fruit growers affected by freeze damage to plums, peaches, nectarines and almonds will receive funds during November’s final 10 days. The largest distribution under Basic Income Support for Sustainability will follow after December begins.