Corn and Sunflower Crops Suffer Crushing Blow: The Worst Harvest in Years

Severe Drought Impacts Grain Harvests in Bulgaria

Grain producers in Bulgaria are facing the worst corn and sunflower harvests in a decade, with 2024 marking the second consecutive year of extremely low corn yields and production.

The recent heatwave and high temperatures have devastated cereal crops, resulting in losses of up to 30%.

In a typical season, farmers expect to harvest around 700 kg of maize per hectare. However, in Rusensko, the expected yield is significantly lower, ranging from 450-500 kg. In some areas, the yield is as low as 100 kg per hectare.

Farmer Stanimir Stanchev explained that the situation is particularly dire in the Silistra region, where production is expected to be between 200-300 kg per hectare. The losses are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of BGN.

Drought is the primary concern, followed by the lack of irrigation infrastructure across the country.

According to Stanchev, some farmers have mitigated their losses by using wells, but this is not a long-term solution. He emphasized the need for a new irrigation infrastructure and a strong state policy to support the agricultural industry.

While it is too early to discuss imports, Stanchev noted that processors will need to assess the situation. Additionally, there are still reserves from the previous year.