Stockbreeding advisory council at ministry of agriculture and food to discuss purchase prices of meat and milk

Minister of agriculture and food Valeri Tsvetanov summoned the Advisory Council on Stockbreeding to discuss measures about the purchase prices in the sector and about narrowing the effects of import of milk and meat substitutes, Focus Agency reported. The session is to begin at 9 o'clock.

According to Valeri Tsvetanov, it is impossible for genuine cheese to cost 3.80 levs per kilogram provided that a liter of milk is bought for 0.60 levs. He admitted that existing legislation does not provide safety mechanisms. Valeri Tsvetanov clarified that a month ago the new head of the National Veterinary Service had issued an order to the big chain stores to set up sections for substitutes separate form the ones for milk, meat and meat products.

"The problem of our milk producers is not only in allocation of subsidies and national policy about it but also in the import of dairy and meat substitutes. This import hits back stockbreeders who are unable to distribute their production", minister Tsvetanov explained.
"The period for paying the subsidies to agricultural producers starts on December, 1st and end on July, 6th. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and its structures are making every endeavor for the money to be paid in advance", minister Tsvetanov said for bTV.

"Last year 880 million levs entered Bulgarian agriculture. Bearing in mind to the incredible quality of production and high production levels, it could be said that 2008 was one of the most successful years in terms of agricultural production" the minister stated.