# Bulgarian fruit and vegetable production crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-fruit-and-vegetable-production-crisis > Updated: 2026-08-27T05:46:20.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3. Bulgarian agricultural leaders and farmers are warning of a potential collapse in the domestic fruit and vegetable production sector. Industry representatives have cited low purchase prices, unregulated markets, and competition from cheap imports as primary drivers of the crisis. Tsvetan Tsekov, chairman of the National Branch Chamber Fruits and Vegetables, noted that without urgent government intervention, local production could face extinction, as producers are often forced to discard crops that cannot compete with imports. In the Dobrich region, producers report that inadequate irrigation infrastructure and declining water levels are threatening vegetable production. While some farmers have switched to non-irrigated crops like onions and garlic, small-scale farms are increasingly disappearing because they cannot manage these challenges. Expanding water access through deeper boreholes remains difficult due to high investment costs and bureaucratic permit processes that can take up to two years. Addressing the broader supply chain, Agriculture Minister Plamen Abrovski stated that the country’s food supply system is “broken and has been for a long time.” He identified the primary issue as an imbalance between fragmented producers and large retail chains, which control approximately 71% of the market. To combat rising food costs and structural imbalances, the Minister proposed increased cooperation among producers and the creation of regional warehouses to reduce reliance on centralized storage controlled by major commercial chains. Abrovski further clarified that rising food prices stem from these long-standing supply chain issues rather than the adoption of the euro, noting that price increases were evident in 2024 and 2025. To address price volatility, the Commission for Consumer Protection (KCP) will increase monitoring of price hikes, with potential sanctions reaching millions. ## Claims - Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture Plamen Abrovski stated that the country's supply system is broken. (single source) - Price increases are not due to the euro, as they occurred in levs. (single source) - The government aims to replace retail chain warehouses with cooperatives to empower producers. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-27: Bulgaria Agriculture Minister addresses food supply chain issues Agriculture Minister Plamen Abrovski attributes rising Bulgarian food prices to a broken supply chain and retail dominance, proposing farmer cooperatives as a solution. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-agriculture-minister-addresses-food-supply-chain-issues ### 2026-08-23: Bulgarian farmers warn of vegetable production crisis due to irrigation issues Bulgarian vegetable producers in Dobrich warn that irrigation challenges and water scarcity are threatening the industry, forcing small farms to close and others to abandon certain crops. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-farmers-warn-of-vegetable-production-crisis-due-to-irrigation-issues ### 2026-08-12: Bulgarian agricultural leaders warn of fruit and vegetable sector collapse Bulgarian agricultural leaders warn of a sector collapse due to cheap imports and market speculation, proposing new cooperatives and urgent government aid to protect domestic fruit and vegetable production. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-agricultural-leaders-warn-of-fruit-and-vegetable-sector-collapse --- Cite as: Bulgarian fruit and vegetable production crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-fruit-and-vegetable-production-crisis