Bulgarians to Grow Pumpkins instead of Tobacco, Expert Says

Source from:  Novinite Ltd. 08/17/2009

An alternative for Bulgarians in the North-East Razgrad region is to grow pumpkins instead of tobacco after the state aid for this culture is stopped in 2010. This has been stated by the head of the "Agriculture and Forestry" Regional Directorate in Razgrad, Ancho Haralambiev, as cited by Darik Radio. He advised farmers who were growing tobacco to switch to another culture as 2009 was the last year when the government would provide subsidy for tobacco farmers. "As a region our option is to go back to pumpkins, which is a actual alternative as a area, production, price, and as income. It can easily substitute tobacco. Moreover, the labor is less compared to tobacco growing. The seeds, which are mainly of interest, are being sold, and then they are processed in many different sector - as oils, in the pharmacy, in cosmetics", Haralambiev explained. 25 000 dekares are currently being grown in the Razgrad region, but in the passed there were years of 60 000 dekares. The profit is good - BGN 2,5 per kilogram seeds, Haralambiev added. He, personally, used to grow pumpkins before he started career in the administration. Enditem