Almost 80% of Tobacco Producers Growing Kabakulak Variety in NE Bulgaria Signed Agreements: Expert

Source from:  Focus News Agency 05/05/2016

"Almost 80% of tobacco producers growing the Kabakulak variety in Northeast Bulgaria have signed agreements on the 2016 production," said Fikret Bekir, deputy chair of Bulgaria's National Association of Tobacco Producers 2010, speaking for Radio FOCUS – Shumen.

In his words, there is a considerable drop of about 40% to 50% in the number of people growing Burley tobacco variety.

According to Bekir, only 30% of people producing Burley tobacco have signed agreements.

“The drop began to be seen in 2015 and continues this year, too. For instance, 75% of the people growing Burley tobacco in the municipality of Tutrakan are giving this activity up. The reason for this is the fact they cannot sign agreements, cannot receive the money for the sold amounts of tobacco, and have not received the previous national extra payments for tobacco that were made in March,” Fikret Bekir explained.

In his words, there is tension among tobacco growers. Enditem