Corn area in Bulgaria’s Dobrudja falls by more than 43%

Corn area in Dobrudja, one of Bulgaria’s key agricultural regions, has declined by more than 43% this season. The main reason is recurring drought in recent years, which has increasingly made corn production unprofitable for farmers. Despite favorable rainfall this year, growers are already looking for alternatives to corn.

According to the Dobrudja Union of Grain Producers, corn area in the region exceeded 1 mln decares (100 thsd ha) just three years ago, compared with only 300–400 thsd decares (30–40 thsd ha) currently. Some farms have already reduced corn to just 10% of their total planted area.

Farmers see the development of irrigation as one of the key conditions for maintaining corn production. According to local growers, yields on irrigated fields can be three to four times higher. However, drilling wells requires substantial investment, as groundwater in some areas lies at depths of 150–200 meters.

Amid persistent problems with corn, farmers are expanding alternative crops. Sorghum is attracting particular interest because of its greater drought tolerance. One local producer said that after four years of losses from corn, the farm planted 1 thsd decares (100 ha) of sorghum this season and plans to expand the area if a stable market is available.

Dobrudja farmers have also increased rapeseed area to around 200 thsd decares (20 thsd ha), while sunflower area has reached about 1 mln decares (100 thsd ha). However, further expansion of these crops could create crop rotation problems. Farmers therefore do not plan to abandon corn entirely, but believe its future in the region will increasingly depend on access to irrigation.

Tags: weather conditions, Bulgaria, corn, drought, sown area, Dobrudja