Print - Bulgarian Tobacco Growers Threaten Protests as of Jan 6 - Novinite.com Bulgaria's National Association of Tobacco Growers has threatened to stage protests in early January 2014. Tsvetan Filev, chair of the Association, explained Tuesday that tobacco growers wanted companies to start buying Basma tobacco by January 5th or else they would hold mass rallies in front of the companies'HQs, block arterial roads, and set fire to bales of tobacco on January 6th. Filev, as cited by Darik radio, noted that a total of 300 tones out of a total output of 13 000 tonnes of Basma-type tobacco had been bought so far. He expressed concerns of tobacco growers that the delay of purchases of tobacco would reduce its quality, taking into account that 70% of the output had been packed in bales and was ready to be sold. Filev specified that all of the tobacco of the Virginia and Burley types had been bought, as well as 60% of the production of Kaba Kulak tobacco.