“I have hold talks with representatives of Bulgarian retail chains and urged them to stock their stores with domestic goods in the order to support Bulgarian producers, "announced Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Desislava Taneva during the Livestock Advisory Board, organized today via videoconference. According to her, this is one of the ways to help farmers minimize the loss of their produce. Minister Taneva commented that our producers are currently experiencing difficulties in selling their products, because all farmers’ markets are closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. "We have received assurances from the retail chains’ representatives that they will only sell Bulgarian lamb meat for Easter holidays," the Minister of Agriculture added.
Desislava Taneva informed the animal breeders that the information on producers, making online delivery will be uploaded on the ministry’s website within a few days. This way, we want to facilitate consumers to have the chance Bulgarian goods to be delivered to their homes, the minister said also.
Representatives of the livestock breeding sector got acquainted with the 2020 Direct Payments Campaign progress. Minister Taneva stated that at this stage, the ministry does not envisage extending the campaign term as future payments will be delayed. All administrative services work in accordance with the instructions of the health authorities and it is possible the applications to be submitted online. "The number of applications submitted online has increased by almost 20 times in one week," Taneva noted.
During the meeting, it became clear that a mechanism is being sought for the unemployed people to be engaged with harvesting activities. The Minister of Agriculture commented that the work process in the farms continue in accordance with all requirements for disinfection and social distance.