The government, following weeks of protests by growers, promised full payment for the 2013 tobacco crop by the end of April, Novinite.com reported.

Tobacco farmers since January have demanded higher subsidies and buy-out prices in addition to full payment for last year’s crop from the government and tobacco companies. Kornelia Ninova of the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party assured growers they would be paid, adding that this year’s budget would include as much as BGN 100 million (EUR 51 million) for tobacco growers, said Novinite.com, the English language service of Sofia News Agency.
A registration system for private-sector tobacco buyers is planned to better regulate companies and firms. Growers and Agriculture Ministry officials are slated to meet next week, according to the news agency.