Plovdiv Grain Producers Form Cooperative to Expand Chickpea Cultivation

Grain producers in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv region have joined forces to shift part of their acreage from traditional cereals to chickpeas and other protein crops. Four major growers have planted roughly 1,000 decares of chickpea in the municipalities of Saedinenie, Brezovo and the village of Trud. By cooperating they can offer larger volumes, streamline seed production and logistics, and negotiate better market prices.

The cooperation arises from low farm‑gate prices for wheat and other cereals, which have fallen to levels seen about twenty years ago. “For each thing it becomes easier to find markets, we can make larger batches and get better prices when we have a bigger scale,” said producer Angel Vukodinin. Yields of chickpea are climate‑dependent, ranging from 100 to 200 kg per decare, making the crop risky. Most of the harvest is exported to Turkey and Middle‑Eastern markets. Producers plan to increase the chickpea area next year, counting on the partnership to expand market access and improve profitability.