Campaign 2024 ended with 26% more organic operators compared to 2023
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food reports an increase in interest in biological production in the country. This became clear during a working meeting of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr Lozana Vasileva and representatives of the biological sector. Currently, there are 4,961 registered organic producers. In 2023, the number of operators increased compared to the previous 2 years, and at the end of 2022, 4,863 operators were included in the electronic register.
The three-year trend in increasing the areas in the control system is maintained. Towards the end of 2023.
the certified land in the country is 147,798 ha or approximately 2.94% of the total used area.
The growth compared to 2021 is 71%, when the area under control is 86,310 ha. The groups of crops with the greatest growth are cereals (48%), legumes and protein (17%) and fodder crops (39%).
In the fruit sector, organic plantings of pears and plums grew by 5 and 6% respectively in 2023, while apple areas increased by 15% compared to the previous year 2022. In the past year 2023, we report a 59% increase in organic areas occupied by fresh vegetables compared to 2022. In 2023, tomato areas and grass production increased by almost 20% compared to the previous year. Acreage growth for pepper compared to 2022 is 10%, while yield has increased by almost 250%. Half of the quantity was produced in heated greenhouses.
After the end of the first half of the current year, a little over 231 thousand biological bee colonies were included in the electronic register. The number of bee colonies at the end of 2023 is about 20 thousand more than at the end of 2022.
The total number of cattle and buffaloes in the control system in 2024 increased by 119% compared to 2022 and 179% compared to 2019. At the end of the previous year, 30,494 cattle were entered in the electronic register.
According to the Ministry of Health, within the framework of Campaign 2024, biological operators have increased by 26% in the various interventions, compared to Campaign 2023. This year their number is 3,567, while last year they were 2,832.
There is an increased interest in the “Organic Animal Husbandry” eco-scheme,
according to which 339 applications for assistance were submitted, while in the 2023 campaign they were – 111. Following the intervention to switch to organic beekeeping, there was also a large increase in the number of bee families applying – approximately 89% more (24,182 pcs) compared to the previous year (12,783 pcs.).
Among the topics discussed were the measures for the development of the branch. Deputy Minister Vasileva emphasized that, unlike the previous program period, where only priority was given to organic producers, separate targeted receptions are now planned for them. “In addition, the additional advantage of biological operators is preserved when applying for investment projects from the Strategic Plan for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas 2023-2027 (SPRZSR), as well as for interventions for young farmers and small farms,” added Lozana Vasileva.
She emphasized the importance of information campaigns and announced that
joint trainings are coming up in September
of the Ministry of Health with the National Service of Advice in Agriculture on the territory of the country. The aim is to introduce the benefits of this type of production and its added value, both for producers and for environmental protection. “Farmers will be able to familiarize themselves in detail with the requirements, documents and practical issues regarding the implementation of the interventions,” the deputy minister specified.
Dr. Vasileva also announced that the initiative will be held in September
week of organic production.
The campaign is being conducted at the European level and our country will participate for another year. “We are planning various events that aim to promote organic farming to the general public, increase consumer confidence in organic products, and expand the scope of the entire food chain,” she noted.
During the meeting, the MFA team assured the industry that it is actively working to change the regulations, which will allow farmers to receive compensatory payments and intervention funds in cases of force majeure and/or extraordinary circumstances. This is foreseen by the actions taken under the Second Amendment of the Strategic Plan, as well as Regulation No. 9 of June 26, 2023 on the terms and conditions for the implementation of the interventions “Organic Crop Production” and “Organic Beekeeping”.
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