The area sown with beans in Dobrudja is 10 times smaller this year. The drastic decline came after last year a large part of the crops were hit by high temperatures and drought, reports Nova TV.
The bean garden of Bulgaria remains without beans, producers are alarmed.
Radostina Zhekova, a grain producer, member of the Board of the National Agricultural Society, says: “A long time ago, Dobrudja was the bean garden of Bulgaria. We have traditions in growing both beans and lentils. Unfortunately, the Dobrudja bean remained a household name. Massively under the labels of “Dobrudja beans” is imported from Egypt and China.”
In the middle of the last century, nearly 600 thousand decares of beans were grown in our country.
Prof. Ivan Kiryakov, head of the department “Selection of Cereal and Legume Crops“ at the Dobrudja Agricultural Institute, says: “In the late 1990s, the areas occupied were between 250 and 350 thousand decares. In 2000, the areas began to fall sharply, and in the last 5 years. throughout Bulgaria they vary between 13,000 and 21,000 decares.
The Bulgarian consumes an average of 4-5 kilograms of beans per year, but 90 percent of it is imported, according to the industry.
Zhekova shares that as a consumer she would like the beans she prepares to be from this year's harvest, and not from those that have been on the exchanges and in warehouses. She explains that long-term storage also requires the use of preparations.
The taste qualities of our beans are also widely recognized. It is selected at the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute.
Kiryakov explains that there is a huge demand for beans, which they are unable to meet due to low yields.
“Under optimal conditions, the yield is over 100 kg/decare, and in a good year over 200. However, last year was not like that for producers”, he adds.
Radostina points out that the year is difficult for legumes. The reason is the heat.
“There were colleagues who managed to harvest 20 kilograms of beans per decare. That way, you really can't pay the costs”, she adds.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in the Dobrich region, last year the areas with beans were 3,650 decares. This year there are only 400.
Zhekova says that bean production is a difficult process, and Kiryakov adds that attention should be paid to state subsidies.
“Otherwise, these imports at dumping prices will discourage agricultural producers even more”, he emphasizes.
The cost price of a kilogram of beans last year was 2.50 leva, the breeder calculates. And Radostina adds that the price at the producer is always lower than in the large chains.
"The price of Bulgarian beans with us - the producers, was around 3.50 - 4 leva", she adds.
Despite the new increase in fertilizer prices, our beans will be traded at last year's price, the producers promise, but they also warn:
„If we continue in this spirit, it will happen. Such a time will come. Although at the moment, perhaps 90% of consumption is imported", says Kiryakov.
„The Bulgarian farmer is demotivated to sow these crops. I have a sad experience with lentils, which have been in our bases for 2-3 years, because we cannot find markets or the price is extremely low „thanks" to the increased imports. It's really a bit demotivating to deal with legumes," concludes Radostina.