Bulgaria’s fruit growers are in big trouble

By: STA Date: 2023. 07. 31. 10:45

Without government help, the sector could be on the brink of bankruptcy. The spring frosts and last week’s hail destroyed 70-80 percent of the crop.

(Photo: Pixabay)

Cruel conditions prevail in the Bulgarian orchards, which cover approximately 65,000 hectares, the spring frosts and summer hailstorms caused such serious damage to the cherry, pear and peach plantations that there is almost nothing to harvest from the trees. The problem is particularly serious in the north and south-east of Bulgaria. – said Nikolaj Kolev, president of the Union of Danube Fruit Grower.

The Association of Bulgarian Fruit Growers is sounding the alarm

Due to the lack of domestic fruit, the Bulgarian market has to be served with imported goods, mainly Greek peaches and nectarines are available in the shops. And the situation will not change, since the yield is so low that the harvest is also missed, since the farmers can pick a minimum amount of fruit from the trees, and this threatens them with bankruptcy. Many people started selling their plantations because of this.

Farmers are waiting for state help

The purchase price of fruit is increasing in Bulgaria, but this does not give the growers an advantage, since they have nothing to sell. In addition, it is not easy for them to get access to agricultural subsidies, since the system of uniform applications was recently completely reformed, so many farmers did not manage to fill out the documents for the subsidy. And due to the correction and processing of errors, they also get money later.

Agrozona.bg