BULGARIA (11 October)
Cereal output in 2005 fell sharply from the bumper crop in the previous year. Wheat output was officially estimated at about 3.3 million tonnes, about 17 percent down from the previous year, despite a similar area sown. The reduction in output was mainly a result of extensive damage to young plants early in the season by plagues of mice, and damage incurred by torrential rains and floods during the spring and summer. The barley crop also decreased sharply, reflecting a sharp reduction in the area sown and lower yields reflecting the generally poorer growing conditions during the season than in the previous year. The Government is providing financial support to farmers for autumn wheat planting for the 2006 crop, to assist them to plant a normal area, which might otherwise have been difficult after losses caused by this year’s adverse weather on top of increased costs of production, fuel in particular.