Agricultural producers from the Sliven region will stage a three-hour protest and block the Sofia-Bourgas highway.

Producers demand compensation because of the drought that is expected this year. They said that a state of emergency should be declared, enabling Bulgaria to benefit from EU funds and compensation.

Nearly 50 per cent of the production has already been destroyed, farmers said.

A declaration said that compensation should be provided before sowing starts. The Cabinet has the financial resources needed, the declaration said.

On May 23 agricultural producers said that once compensation is provided, all protests would cease.

According to European regulations, compensation for producers can reach up to 90 per cent of the investment made for cultivation.