Apricot cultivation in Bulgaria is facing increased challenges as warming winters lead to fewer days cold enough for optimum fruit development. Nadezhda Shopova, an assistant at the Institute for Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research (IICAW) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, discussed these issues in an article published on Klimateka. According to Shopova, "Warmer temperatures in January and February prompt an earlier arrival of spring," which can delay fruit tree development and increase vulnerability to spring frosts.
Weather patterns in Bulgaria's key apricot regions may continue to change, with warmer, less predictable winters. While cold snaps remain a concern, it is the warming trends during the initial months of the year that paradoxically increase risks. Such environmental variables contribute to unstable yields in the long term.
Historically, Bulgaria experiences varying apricot yields over a span of a decade: Three very good seasons, four average, and one poor. During poorer years, reliance on imports grows, consequently impacting price dynamics. The cycle may deter potential investments in orcharding ventures due to its uncertain nature.
For high-tech greenhouse growers, the erratic environmental influence on apricot output complicates long-term planning. The necessity for imports during low-yield years not only affects local production costs but also distorts market prices. Addressing these climatic challenges remains a topic for further exploration among stakeholders.
Source: Novinite
