Tobacco Growing Regions
Tobacco cultivation is one of the most important agricultural activities in southern Bulgaria, as well as in the provinces of Silistria and Kustendil. Altogether, the total tobacco plantation area is estimated at around 3,000 hectares.
Among the main producing regions, Haskovo has the highest yield—producing over 800,000 kilograms of tobacco each year. It is followed by Philippopolis (Plovdiv) with about 300,000 kilograms, Kustendil with 270,000 kilograms, and Silistria with 210,000 kilograms. These figures clearly show that tobacco plays an important role in the southern and southeastern parts of the country.
Domestic Use and Export
According to approximate calculations based on official statistics, about three-fourths of Bulgaria’s total tobacco harvest is consumed locally by the population, while only one-fourth is exported.
Although the export quantity is smaller, Bulgarian tobacco is highly valued for its quality. In fact, it can be favorably compared to Turkish tobacco produced in Macedonia and Enidje. The leaf tobacco used for manufacturing cigarettes is sold at prices ranging from 80 centimes to 1 franc 50 centimes per kilogram, depending on the quality and region Customized Private Turkey Tours.
Government Support and Economic Incentives
The Bulgarian government has made active efforts to promote and improve tobacco cultivation. These efforts include:
Distributing high-quality tobacco seeds to farmers free of charge;
Offering export incentives and bounties to encourage trade abroad;
Allowing the Bulgarian National Bank to give loans to tobacco growers, using official certificates of harvest as security.
These measures help farmers avoid financial hardship between planting and selling their crops, and they also encourage the spread of better farming methods and higher quality tobacco production.
The Rose Industry – Bulgaria’s Floral Treasure
After tobacco, the rose crop is the second most important industrial plant in Bulgaria. Roses are grown almost entirely for the production of attar of roses, a precious rose oil used in the perfume industry around the world.
This Bulgarian rose oil is famous internationally and received the highest awards at the Paris Exhibition of 1900 for its exceptional fragrance and purity.
Rose Growing Areas and Production
Rose cultivation is concentrated mainly in 148 parishes located in the provinces of Philippopolis (Plovdiv) and Stara Zagora. The total area of rose gardens is about 5,094 hectares.
The yield and quality of rose oil depend greatly on weather conditions during the blooming and harvesting seasons. Even small changes in temperature or rainfall can affect both the quantity and fragrance of the oil.
The two main varieties of roses cultivated in Bulgaria are:
Rosa damascena (the red rose) – valued for its strong and rich scent;
Rosa alba (the white rose) – known for its delicate and softer fragrance.
The best rose gardens are found in and around Kazanlak, Karlovo, Klissoura, and Stara Zagora, regions often referred to as the “Valley of Roses.”
Both tobacco and roses have long played a major role in the Bulgarian economy. Tobacco supports the rural population through farming and trade, while rose cultivation has made Bulgaria world-famous for its fine rose oil production.
Together, these two crops symbolize the combination of traditional skill and natural richness, showing how Bulgarian agriculture blends hard work, favorable climate, and national pride to produce products admired across the world.