Ferhat slams ‘Unjustified’ delay in compensation for Rodopi cherry growers
In a parliamentary question submitted to the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Ferhat said cherry producers in Rodopi have yet to receive any compensation for extensive crop damage caused by a severe frost in March 2025.
According to the lawmaker, Rodopi was hit by sub-zero temperatures for several consecutive hours on March 20 and 21, 2025, at a particularly sensitive stage of crop development, resulting in widespread damage to cherry orchards. He noted that the Agriculture Ministry had explicitly stated in a document dated September 23, 2025, that compensation payments would be completed by the end of October 2025.
However, Ferhat said that as of early January, affected producers have not received any payments.
He added that the damage was classified as “pre-flowering frost” and referred to an unspecified compensation programme that has yet to be formally announced. According to Ferhat, growers have received no clear information regarding the level of compensation, the total budget allocated or the timeline for implementation.
The prolonged uncertainty, he said, has pushed cherry growers into severe financial distress, leaving many unable to cover basic cultivation costs and facing the real risk of abandoning production altogether.
Ferhat argued that the failure to meet the ministry’s commitments and the unequal treatment of Rodopi cherry growers compared with other affected producers violate the principle of equal treatment and undermine the credibility of agricultural policy.
Through his parliamentary question, he is seeking clear and binding answers on the payment schedule for compensation, the specific programme under which pre-flowering frost damage to cherry crops will be compensated, and the total funds available, including the amounts allocated to affected producers.
“Cherry growers in Rodopi cannot endure further delays and vague promises. They need immediate support, transparency and equal treatment,” Ferhat said.
