BAALO will work towards the creation of an Agricultural Bank and the formation of a Branch Chamber

The Bulgarian Association of Owners of Agricultural Land (BAALO), strives at renewing a project from 2003 to create a national agricultural bank and to put the idea forward, as announced today in Borovets at a seminar on agricultural land, the market, legislative changes and CAP reform. “Only with the participation of the State can there be real land consolidation, there is no way for that to happen without state involvment,” stated Stayko Staykov, President of the Association.  According to BAALO, the state, in its role of a bank, will be able to buy and sell land and also to exchange it. The state can also participate in land consolidation projects in cooperation with the Association. “This idea is yet to be developed further. This is going to be positive for all of us”, assures Stayko Staykov.

The second general idea, on which the Association will work together with other organizations, will be the creation of a branch chamber. It will involve people from different branches – all of them will be represented. “All branch organizations have realized that we have to work together. We wish to fight all difficulties that arise together regardless whether they are of legislative type or natural disasters “, the President of the association pointed out. “We believe the moment is ripe!”

According to Mr Staykov, the idea of the establishment of a branch chamber will lead to a preliminary discussion on legislative initiatives and all agricultural problems that may arise. “Until recently, every organization solved its own problems themselves but now we see that it is much better to do that in unity,” added Mr Staykov.  He clarified that this is not about the participation of the State in the establishment of a Chamber of Agriculture. Inter branch organisations will create a union themselves. Mr Stayko Staykov clarified that work on the project will start from the second half of the year because before that the agricultural organizations will be involved in discussions on the Bill of Property, Land Relations and the Preservation of Agricultural Land.