Bulgaria’s agricultural export volume has tripled in the first nine months of 2004 compared to three years ago. The statement was issued by Mehmed Dikme, the country’s Minister of Agriculture, who has stressed the purpose of his ministry is to transfer Bulgaria from an importing to an exporting country.
The total value of farming exports in the period exceeded $700 million, bringing the desired $1 billion threshold for the year 2004 closer to reality. Mr Dikme has also announced that more than 1,700 projects have been given a green light under the EU SAPARD programme, generating a total subsidy of $455 million (Lv700 million) of which $130 million (Lv200 million) has already been paid out to local farmers. In the past two years Bulgarian farmers have bought twice as much agricultural machinery as in the preceding five-year period.
Bulgaria, once the pantry for communist side of Europe, is currently transforming its farming practises in an attempt to become a major food supplier for the EU. Although expected to join only in 2007 it has already adapted 78% of its agriculture legislation to EU standards. Its strategic products include cereals, wine, vegetables but also cows, goats and buffalo. The country has 20 dairies, 12 abattoirs, four meat and four fish processing factories that have permission to export their produce to the EU.
