Bulgaria Newsflash Week 26
Agricultural land prices in Bulgaria; New organic seed varieties in breeding; Investments in flour mill modernization; Brown bear protection unit in the latest Bulgaria Agri Newsflash of week 26.
Prices of agricultural land went down in 2020
The average price of arable land reached BGN 1,042 per 1 decare in 2020, which was 1% cheaper than in 2019. The average price of trades for arable land between individuals and companies amounted to BGN 1,042 while the price of trades between companies only was BGN 961. The average price of permanent grassland (meadows and pastures) in 2020 reached BGN 268 per 1 decare which was 10.7% below the 2019 level, according to latest data of the National Statistical Institute. The highest price of arable land in 2020 was in the Northeast Region (BGN 1,470 per 1 decare), which was 0.5% higher than a year before. In 2020, the average price for rent/lease of arable land reached BGN 46/decare, which was 6.1% cheaper than in 2019. The average price for rent/lease of permanent grassland was BGN 21/decare, which was 8.7% below the 2019 level.
Bulgarian researchers create seeds for organic farming
Minimizing the use of plant protection products in vine growing by creating resistant seeds is a project that is among the priorities of researchers in the Ruse-based Obraztsov Chiflik Institute for Agriculture and Seeds Science with the Agricultural Academy, AgriBG news reports. Two resistant varieties have already been officially recognized: Kristalen [Crystal] and Misket Viking, and planting stock of those is already in use. The Institute also prioritizes innovation for alfalfa. It has put out five new varieties created for unfavourable climate conditions. The most recent of them, Cveta, was selected last year. The Institute experts say the new varieties are much sought after because they have been created in extreme conditions and can survive dramatic climate changes: if the widely used alfalfa varieties can survive four years, the new ones can last two years longer.
Goodmills Bulgaria to Invest BGN 3 Mln in Four Years
Goodmills Bulgaria will invest some BGN 3 million until 2025, reports Capital daily. The company owns one of the biggest flour mills in Bulgaria, which produces flour of the Sofia Mel brand. The investment will be put in the ongoing modernization of the milling facilities. Some of it will go in the construction of a large demonstration bakery in the mill campus. “It will be a multifunctional centre where we will try out recipes, present our products before business partners and offer training to our consumers,” said CEO Stefan Hristoskov. Goodmill Bulgaria will report a growth in revenue of some 10% in 2020 compared to the year before. The pre-tax profit stands at BGN 2.2 million.
Rapid-Reaction units to join efforts for brown bear protection
Representatives of state institutions, NGOs and researchers mapped out measures for protection of the brown bear at a meeting in the Environment and Water Ministry, reported the Ministry. One of the important measures is setting up rapid-reaction units with the regional environment inspectorates and the national parks. A good example of those is an existing rapid-reaction unit with the regional environment inspectorate in the southern town of Smolyan, which is overseeing the area with Bulgaria’s largest population of brown bears and where, predictably, the problems are the most. The director of the Executive Forestry Agency, Alexander Dounchev, said it is important to look into what leads to poaching and all problems with this protected species.