Danube Drought Leaves Bulgarian Farmers Struggling with Unsold Grain

The Danube River in Northwest Bulgaria has reached a record low level, halting shipping and leaving tons of agricultural production unsold.

Zhechko Andreynski, chairman of the Vidin Union of Grain Producers, stated that over 90% of the grain produced this year remains in warehouses, with some farmers having trouble even loading it onto ships.

Nikolay Naydenov, a farmer from the village of Ruptsi, has about 1,800 tons of wheat stored in his warehouse but is struggling to transport it due to the low water level. He explained that he's sold only 500 tons so far and is facing difficulties harvesting the new crop.

Andreynski emphasized that the lack of free space poses a significant problem for producers as they approach the harvest season for sunflower and corn crops. This may force them to sell their produce directly from the field at lower prices or rent warehouses to store it, hoping for price increases later.