Harvest 2025

On June 17, 2025, on the land of “Agro – Tsar Petrovo” AD, in the Vidin region, the National Association of Grain Producers (NAGP) officially launched Harvest Campaign 2025 – a celebration of labor, fertility, and the Bulgarian land.

The event gathered hundreds of farmers, institutional representatives, and friends of agriculture to share in the symbolic and emotional moment when grain producers commence the most sacred act of their work – the harvest.

The symbolic start was marked with a ceremonial water blessing conducted by His Eminence, Metropolitan Pahomiy of Vidin.

Among the official guests at the event were:

Iliya Prodanov – Chairman of NAGP
Zhechko Andreynski – Chairman of the Vidin Union of Grain Producers
Victor Rombaut – Host of the event
Yanis Slav Yanchev and Mr. Ivan Kapitanov – Deputy Ministers of Agriculture and Food
Dr. Dragomir Gospodinov – Director General of the Directorate General “Agriculture and Regional Policy”
Iva Ivanova – Executive Director of the State Fund “Agriculture”
Irena Nikolova – Deputy Regional Governor of Vidin
Dr. Vladimir Vladimirov – Mayor of the town of Kula

The harvest ceremony was also part of the European initiative “Bread of Peace,” which unites 12 countries from Central and Eastern Europe in honoring peace, tradition, and bread. The project was initiated to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Each year, the rye harvest from all participating countries is used for the symbolic preparation and breaking of the European “Bread of Peace.”

Rye is an extremely resilient crop and, in times of crisis and upheaval, has saved people from hunger. In this context, rye is a symbol of salvation.

The ceremonial start of the harvest was performed by the “Zdravets” dance ensemble from the village of Makresh and performers from the “Self-Education 1927” Community Center in the village of Kapitanovtsi.

Entertainment during the event was provided by: