Bulgarian farmers warn of vegetable production crisis due to irrigation issues

Farmers in the Dobrich region of Bulgaria are warning of a crisis in vegetable production due to inadequate irrigation infrastructure and declining water levels. While areas for open-field peppers and tomatoes have increased, small-scale farms are disappearing because they cannot manage irrigation challenges.

Producers report that even with recent rainfall, water levels in existing wells are reaching critically low points. Expanding water access through deeper boreholes is hindered by high investment costs and slow, bureaucratic permit processes that can take up to two years.

Both small-scale and large-scale producers face similar difficulties. Some farmers have been forced to halt certain crops or switch to non-irrigated field production, such as onions and garlic, to mitigate the risks of heat and low moisture. Farmers are calling on the state to provide more active support to protect domestic vegetable production.