Ivan Ivanov has worked in agriculture for the past 20 years. He farms 1,200 acres of land. Despite significant investments in new machinery and equipment, his profits have dropped noticeably in recent years. Low grain purchase prices, more competitive producers, and poor weather conditions aren’t the only reasons. Almost 10% of the land that Ivan cultivates has become nonarable because of erosion as a result of excessive deep treatments for decades. In pursuit of short-term results, he neglected the long-term effects on soil and environment. In other words, the soil has been exhausted by cultivation, and lower yields are the logical outcome.
Ivan is a collective image of Bulgarian farmers. Aggressive soil treatment and subsequent erosion and loss of organic matter are a common problem for farmers across the country. According to many studies, soils in Bulgaria are degrading so rapidly that, in 20 years, crops such as corn and sunflower will not grow at all in certain areas.
The Conserving Bulgaria’s Soils project aims to reverse that trend by demonstrating new practices for soil conservation and cultivation and training farmers from Northeast Bulgaria to implement them successfully. The goal of the program is to encourage the use of soil-friendly cultivation of arable crops, which not only protects soils but also contributes to higher yields due to improved soil properties.
“On the one hand, more economical treatments are associated with lower costs; on the other, minimal treatment makes the soil healthier, resulting in sustainable long-term yields. That is, the better care we take of the soil, the more it gives us back.” This is how Zlatina Baleva, program expert at the America for Bulgaria Foundation, summarizes the project concept.
The project is supervised by a team of researchers from Angel Kanchev University of Ruse in collaboration with agriculture experts from Cornell University, well-known for its experience in research and training in alternative soil conservation techniques, which are applied in many regions of the United States. The project has been supported by the America for Bulgaria Foundation since 2014. How has it changed farmers’ attitudes? Find out HERE.
