Investigation Over Price Pressure on Farmers Launched

An investigation has been launched following reports that two major retail chains requested a 15% reduction in supplier prices just days after the government’s Care Basket initiative began. Marin Genurov, chair of the Association of Greenhouse Producers, told the ministry that farmers were being given a choice between lowering prices or having their goods rejected. According to Agriculture Minister Plamen Abrovski, producers are afraid to name specific retailers due to fears of retaliation.

The minister said that upcoming legislative changes will soon bring transparency to the food supply chain and reveal who is engaging in speculation. He added that reforms will be adopted to protect agricultural producers.

Some producers still fear that after the case is made public they may lose their ability to sell goods, explained Tsvetan Tzvetkov. He added that such price reductions could lead to bankruptcies, given the sharp rise in fertilizer, fuel and labour costs in recent months. During a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, the chair of the Fruits and Vegetables industry association expressed hope for swift legislative changes. The aim is to increase transparency in the food chain and identify speculative practices.