An advisory board for tobacco will be established at the Bulgarian agriculture ministry, which will include representatives of tobacco producers, companies, state administration and legislature.

According to a Novinite story, Bulgarian agriculture minister Miroslav Naydenov met with MPs and the big companies purchasing tobacco last Friday, after which the announcement was made.
The participants in the meeting expressed their shared opinion that the tobacco sector in Bulgaria cannot survive without receiving subsidies from the state and the companies.
There were also negotiations with the MPs for providing BGN 70 million (EUR 35.8 million) to tobacco producers in the second half of 2011.
The companies that purchase tobacco also confirmed that if state funding is provided, they will also agree to support the tobacco producers. Naydenov reminded that he had already suggested additional payments to the sector that amount to BGN 143 million, which would be divided in 2011 and 2012. (pi)