Bulgaria Newsflash Week 7, 2022

Bulgarian exports grows by 24% in 2021 

The value of agricultural goods Bulgaria exported to the EU showed the biggest increase: over 113% year-on-year.
Bulgarian goods worth BGN 67.9 bln reached foreign markets last year, according to statistical estimates reported by Capital daily.

Continue reading about Bulgarian export in 2021 here

More money for agriculture in 2022 budget

The budget framework for 2022 has BGN 150 mln in addition to the traditional appropriations for agriculture, said Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov. He explained that the policy of national assistance in agriculture relies on the state aid instruments and the transitional national assistance, targeting small and mid-sized farmers.

“The planned support measures in 2022 match the coalition agreement for policies aimed to building a viable, competitive and market-oriented agricultural market and prioritize small and mid-sized farmers,” said the Minister.

Bulgaria aims to increase organically raised animals by 5% per year

Bulgaria aims to increase organically raised animals by 5% per year until 2027 when they will reach 56,916, according to the national plan for development of organic production which is currently being updated for the period until 2030, said Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov said in Parliament. Investment in pasture animals will increase to meet the requirements of the EU legislation related to organic farming. The increase of livestock in organic farming is expected to follow the increase of organic land, which is expected to reach 354,279 ha until 2027 after increasing by 7% and then by 10% until 2030.

Organic production, processing and markets will be encouraged by various support schemes included in the strategic plan for the next programming period.

Bulgarian wine expected to get more expensive

The price of Bulgarian wine might increase by as much as 30% this year, according to Peter Boshnakov, President of the Bulgarian Association of Vine Growers. He said in an interview for Balgarski Fermer weekly that the price for end-buyers has already gone up by 5-10% due to the higher production costs. Electricity bills of wine makers have gone up by 300% and all other costs – cork, labels, boxes, bottles – by 8-10%. The price of grapes is expected to increase later in the year as well but that is not going to impact the wineries. The wine sector needs state aid of some BGN 32.5 mln, says Boshnakov, who is a vine grower and wine marker himself.

Plovdiv-based company plans to build factory for organic fruit juices

Sibota, a company based in the southern city of Plovdiv, is planning to build a factory for processing of organic fruit and production of fruit juices in the nearby village of Radinovo, reports Capital daily. The estimated investment is of some 1 million leva. “We will apply for a subsidy under the [EU-backed operational] programme for rural development,” said Sibota owner Stanimir Cholakov.

The future factory will be making juices from fresh fruit with preserved natural taste with no added sugar, sweeteners, artificial flavouring, water and preservatives. The estimated annual production is 130,000 l. The fruit pulp will be sold as animal feed and compost.