The Bulgarian government paid on Tuesday 73 million levs ($49.8 million/37.3 million euro) in state subsidies to local tobacco producers in line with an agreement reached last spring.
"I know that tobacco is the only occupation in the region. [...] until we find another solution for you, we have no other option but to strictly honour our commitments to the sector," a government press release quoted prime minister Boiko Borisov as saying at an official ceremony giving a symbolic check to the president of the National Association of Tobacco Producers, Tsvetan Filev.
The funds have already been transferred to the farmers' accounts, the agriculture ministry said in a statement published on its website.