BULGARIA INCREASES EGG AND CHICKEN EXPORT BUSINESS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6671, 26 July 1928, Page 3

BULGARIA INCREASES EGG AND CHICKEN EXPORT BUSINESS

AGRICULTURE MINISTER ENCOURAGES INDUSTRY IN MANY WAYS SOFIA. ; . One of Bulgaria’s • chief . articles of export before the war was eggs. In 1911 she sold about 15,000 ions of them in. foreign markets for about 3,000,000 dollars. As a result of the war tho export of i eggs fell to less than 5000 tons yearly. By 1923 this amount had been increased to 0000 and during the next live was more than doubled, bringing the number of eggs exported almost up to the pre-war level. In 1927,' however, Bulgaria received twice as much for her exported eggs- as in 1911, due to a great increase, in prices in the European markets., It is worthy of note also that since the war the Bulgarian peasants have not only increased the number of eggs exported, but at .the same time have consumed far .more themselves. Furthermore, during these same years, from 1922 to 1927, they have sold, abroad an ever-increasing number of chickens. In 1924, for instance, they sent 344,009 chickens' .to Europe, and in 1927, 573,000. .'.yVs‘, v y'

This rapid increase ' in the amount, of eggs and chickens consumed By the peasants, and in the number of eggs and chickens sent abroad indicates an appreciable advance in poultry raising in Bulgaria. This has Been Brought about By the enterprise of the peasants themselves and By the encouragement and instructions given by the Ministry of Agriculture. Aaiong other, things, the state maintains* 15 model farms where the Best types of poultry are raised and from .which thousands of good eggs are distributed among the peasants for setting. Scores of ex'; pert county agents, also, instruct the village women how to take Better carp of their chickens, ■

Besides this the Ministry arranges contests every year and gives prizes of from 20 dollars to 100 dollars to the owners of hens laying the largest number of eggs. Prizes arc also given'to the peasants who have created arid maintain model Buildings, yards and facilities for poultry raising. The Ministry gives plans and instructions to the peasants free of charge showing them how to Build the Best and most -economical kinds of chicken coops. Within" the last two years about 2000 of these modcl coops have been put up. Generally speaking, it is the village woman who manages this Branch of agricultural activity, and Bulgarian traditions allow her to keep the money she makes from her chickens. It is needless to add that all her egg. money is spent wisely—it goes for the home, the children and the dresses* towels and stockings in the clothes chests of her growing daughters.