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Agriculture of Bulgaria has undergone rudimentary changes post 1989 with the dissolution of the centralized structure of farming and the opening up of the agricultural markets. There has been a liquidation of the some major industrial organizations and redistribution of farmlands and other agricultural assets. According to available statistics the total cultivable area in Bulgaria in 1998 was 4,511,000 ha. Of the total arable lands, a large part was used up for the production of seasonal crops while a minor part was used for the cultivation of permanent crops. The regions in Bulgaria where agriculture is practiced on a wide scale include the Danube plateau and the southern portion of Dobrudja. The major crops grown in the country include wheat, barley, corn, soybeans and sunflower seeds. Bulgaria is also a major producer of a variety of fruits and vegetables namely apples, grapes, potatoes and tomatoes. Though the agricultural sector underwent privatization it could not prosper fully owing to some limitations. Though grains formed a lion share of the agricultural produce, the country faced a severe crisis of the same in 1995 when tons of grains were exported out of the country. Agriculture of Bulgaria has suffered owing to the degradation of lands due to erosion and acidification of the soil, injudicious use of fertilizers and unsuitable irrigation facilities.
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