Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Iliya Iliev, Director of DAI – General Toshevo, comments on the celebration day of agricultural science at Agricultural Academy 26.10.2022
For yet another year, the aridity in the major grain-production region of Bulgaria creates enormous problems for the farmers at the very beginning of the grain sowing period. The situation is critical not only in Dobrich and Silistra districts, but also in such regions as Shumen, almost affecting even Veliko Tarnova area. Drought is particularly threatening to the wheat crops that were sown somewhat late, because grain cannot start germinating and a second sowing may be needed.
The good news is that the crops sown earlier have already developed and have started tillering. With normally developed roots, the crops will manage to over winter in good condition. In contrast to the north-eastern regions, the condition of wheat in central and west Bulgaria is very good due to the autumnal rainfalls of economic importance. As far as the size of the areas sown with autumn crops is concerned, the prognosis is that they will not be reduced – a fact confirmed by the agricultural producers themselves.
With regard to the price of grain, the problem is that this autumn it fluctuated a lot. Every week or two, rises and falls are observed, which do not allow the farmers to realize fast and lucrative deals. By October 26th, the wheat and sunflower offers moved downward. In comparison to the previous year, the drop of bread grain prices is with 20-30 BGN/ton, and in sunflower it is with about 50 BGN/ton. The offers for oilseed sunflower on 26th October were 1120 BGN/ton, as compared to 1150 – 1170 BGN/ton a weak earlier.