Agriculture Minister Identifies Drought, Water Shortage as Main Challenges in Sector

BTA intern Ivayla Kirilova

Minister of Agriculture and Food Plamen Abrovski inspecting the Kresna bypass construction works, Southwestern Bulgaria, August 13, 2026 (BTA Photo/Krassimir Nikolov)

Kresna, Southwestern Bulgaria,

13.08.2026 13:01

(BTA)

Minister of Agriculture and Food Plamen Abrovski said here on Thursday that the main challenges facing agriculture are drought and water shortage, and pointed out the need to restore irrigation systems. Abrovski was in Kresna for an inspection of the construction works on the Kresna bypass and the lands around it.

Minister Abrovski underscored that without water there can be no agriculture. According to him, some of the irrigation infrastructure has been dismantled over the past 20 years, and now the State is seeking ways to fund the construction and repair of irrigation system canals.

"Inland reservoirs are between 50% and 80% full, there is still water, but we are very careful when we release it, unlike last year," said Abrovski.

He recalled that under the Water Act, drinking needs have priority when using water resources, followed by agriculture, the energy sector, and other needs.

/DS/