Bulgaria: Low yields of Smilyan beans this year

The new harvest of Smilyan beans will be smaller due to the periods of drought and heat, forecast by the Agricultural Credit Cooperative in Smilyan. Is the de minimis a mirage for breeders? The expectations are for yields of no more than 35-40 tons from the farmers in the upper Arda valley. In other years, the region's iconic bean crop has grown to 50 tonnes. Particularly unfavorable for the development of the delicatessen bean variety are the high temperatures that have been observed in the region in recent weeks, the farmers said. Local farmers complain of falling flowers on bean stalks, which agronomists say is known as "abortion" of flowers. "Smilyan beans grow best at this altitude, excessive summer temperatures cause abortion of flowers," said Safidin Chikurtev, chairman of the cooperative, which owns the trademark "Smilyan beans", quoted by BTA. The best ...