site.btaEuropean Tobacco Growers' Association Congress Takes Place in Sofia October 25-26

The 37th Congress of the European Tobacco Growers' Association is taking place in Sofia on October 25-26. Organizer and host of the event is the Bulgarian National Tobacco Growers' Association. 

Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev told participants that attitudes towards tobacco on a global scale are not unanimous, but for Bulgaria it is a very old tradition, which is a major economic, social, and demographic factor.

Vatev cited data showing that the number of applicants under the transitional national tobacco aid scheme for the 2023 campaign in Bulgaria is 8,295 for 17,049,140 kg of tobacco. In 2023, 2,282 hectares were sown with oriental tobacco, or 22.6% more than in 2022. 3,411 tonnes were produced, an increase of 33.5%, and the average yield per hectare increased by 8.7% to 150 kg.

The area planted with Virginia crops was 431 ha or 26.7% less than in 2022. Production was 373 tonnes, or a 22.3% decrease, while average yield increased by 6.1% to 116 kg/ha.

The area to be harvested with Burley tobacco is 140 ha or 20.9% less compared to 2022. The quantity harvested was 18.8% less or 267 tonnes with a 3.2% increase in average yield to 192 kg/ha. As of October 5, 2023, the register of tobacco growers in Bulgaria numbered 7,374.

Exports of raw and untreated tobacco of all varieties for 2021 totaled 22,908 tons, representing 2.7% of total agricultural exports. Exports for 2022 are 23,616 tonnes. In the first half of 2023, exports reached 10,284 tonnes.

"Bulgaria is the producer of five of the most elite tobacco varieties, so Bulgarian agricultural science has given a lot to the world tobacco production," Vatev concluded.