Vesselin Trendafilov, Stefan Hristov and the partner “Sviat bez granici” – Stara Zagora tripped to several towns where we got familiar with the proposals for several initiatives.
First we visited Gorno Aleksandrovo, where we reviewed several potential initiatives. The first initiative came from Nayden Hristov, whose intension was to purchase sheep in order to increase his income and on later stage to apply for the European Financial Programs. The applicant had strong background raising cattle. Our conclusion was to postpone our consideration of financing the deal at later stage due to the spread disease of “blue tongue”, when the ban for transporting and moving animals falls.
The second initiative concerned the purchase of goats. The applicant was raising about 30 goats and was willing to increase his flock with 100 more. He was willing to purchase about 40 goats. There was a problem the goats to be purchased from one place due to the fact that in the vicinity there were no large herds. The goats could be purchased from several sellers with small herds, but nonregistered as farm producers, a problem evoked with the fact that the sellers could not issue the respective financial documents for the deal. The applicant was committed to find a seller with bigger herd, who could issue the respective documents. The proposal for the initiative would be reviewed later again when the ban for transporting and moving of animals falls, too.
The third initiative came from the Mayor of the town. He’s cultivating 15 dka from which 5 dka with peaches and 10 dka with hazelnuts. All orchards had drip irrigation. He had a registration as a farm producer and had been approved by Young Farmer Program as he had got the first transaction of payment. Due to administrative obstacles the second payment was held. The intention of the applicant was to purchase a new tractor on the amount of 12 000 lv. His proposal was beyond the project’s frame, that could be a problem and for the moments no actions would be taken.
The last proposal for initiative from that town came from Sebin, a Roma man in his retirement. He intended to purchase a plot from the agricultural cooperation. The plot would be used as a site for building shed and subsequently to buy and raise animals. The price of the plot was 1600 lv. The applicant had vague plan for his activities, so his proposal would be reviewed again on later stage.
The second place we visited was Aitos, where we reviewed some proposals for initiatives.
The first proposal involved the purchase of a generator for electricity. The applicant was an owner of a trade company dealing with clothes and small household goods since 15 years. He mainly sold at trade fairs and flea markets. He’s going to use the generator to supply with electricity his stand. At the moment he had one power generator, which capacity was unsufficient for his needs. The budget of the candidate for the purchase of the power generator was 2500 lv. We approved his proposal and would proceed to implementation of the initiative.
The second proposal for initiative involved the purchase of 5 cows. The applicant together with his wife raised 12 cows and 3 calves. They were willing to increase the number of animals. The applicant had an experience raising cattle. We visited his cowshed in village of Meglen. The shed situated in the farmyard was old but clean and neat. There was enough space for increasing the herd. During our visit the cattle was out for grazing. It was proposed to be looked for suitable sellers of cow, after that they would be assessed and we would reconsider the initiative.
Visiting Troyanovo we met with Radostina Koleva and reviewed her proposal for an initiative. The applicant from Roma origin was growing vegetables in a greenhouse in her own yard. She’s growing mainly early vegetables that sell mainly in her settlement. Her intensions were to purchase garden tiller with attachments and trailer. Mrs. Koleva had been explored the big suppliers of farm equipment in the nearby cities – Burgas, Karnobat, etc, and had gathered some good quotations. The best quotation included a tiller on the amount of 942 lv and a trailer on the amount of 720 lv. She had negotiated a discount from 5% when purchasing both items together. We gave positive assessment to that proposal and our final decision was to proceed with the implementation of the initiative.
Next we visited Sredec, where we met several proposals for initiatives, too.
The first proposal came from Mirka Kocheva, who wanted to increase her flock above 51 sheep in order to have rights to apply for “Young farmer”. At the moments she had 42 sheep. Her goal was to start getting the respective grants for her agricultural activity in order to improve her income. She had an experience raising sheep since 8 years. Concerning the situation in the state (spread disease “blue tongue”), we recommended to postpone the purchase of sheep. Her proposal would be reviewed again at later stage.
The second proposal concerned the purchase of sheep. It came from Mihail, a Roma man. This proposal also would be reviewed on later stage.
The next proposal was analogues to the one described above. It concerned the purchase of sheep in order to increase the flock of the applicant. The sheep shed was situated approx. 6 km away from Sredec. The sheep shed had a capacity for 200 sheep, but at the present only 70 were handled. The intension of the applicant was to gradually increase his flock to shed’s capacity. At this stage he was willing to purchase about 30 sheep. We visited the shed on the site in order to examine it. The shed was constructed according to the requirements of the standard for such structures. Due to the circumstances described in the above proposal that initiative was postpone, too.
The next applicant Angel, a man from Roma origin, intended to purchase 5 cows. At the present he was working in a cow farm, but was willing to start raising cattle by his own. He was planning to handle the animals in his yard, but his plans were vague without the appropriate estimations for feed, shed, etc. We decided first to study the possibilities for sellers of cows and afterwards to discuss the proposal once again.
As a conclusion the main problem we met with the proposal concenring purchasing sheep was the absence of big flocks from which it could be bought sheep with the respective papers. There were many average and small flocks, but their owners weren’t registered as agricultural producer and they couldn’t issue the proper papers.
In Burgas we met with Dimitar Evtimov. He was a professional photographer from approximately one year. His activity was concentrated in Burgas in the field of childhood, products, interior, advertising and artistic photography. He regularly shot products for different catalogues and websites as Amazon.co.uk. He promoted his activity and professional services through a website maintained by him. The applicant was missing a photo studio that matches his needs. He had already found suitable premises and had signed a contract for rent – 350 lv per month. The applicant could rely on his income to support him in his development as a professional photographer. The proposal was approved and the initiative would proceed soon.
