Tobacco Growers to Stage Mass Protest This Week

Bulgaria's tobacco growers producing more than 2 tons will take to the streets on April 24 and 25.

They are demanding that newly imposed quotas on government subsidies depending on tobacco sorts be scrapped, as they believe the latest rules favour a certain group of growers, as CROSS news agency reports.

Protesters will express their outrage at the decision which, as they say, grants 120 000 growers of oriental tobacco subsidies of BGN 3 per kg, whereas most who engage in that activity are to receive only BGN 2.04.

Dissenting growers have hinted that, in their opinion, the move triggered by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) is aimed at gathering electoral support from families in regions with ethnically mixed populations, weeks ahead of the EU vote.

Groups of tobacco growers have previously staged a few demonstrations over the last months, rejecting low purchase prices for their raw material.

This week, like at previous protests, road blockades are also planned to be set up along the Bulgraian-Greek border.

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