Stevia instead of tobacco – potential alternative for the Eastern Rhodopes

The land in the Eastern Rhodopes has never been easy to cultivate - characterized by steep slopes and small, fragmented fields, its soil has still managed to sustain the local population for centuries. Livelihoods in this region of Bulgaria have long been tied primarily to agriculture and livestock farming, with tobacco holding a special place among the crops grown there.

For decades, tobacco farming was a way of life for entire families and villages. The work began before sunrise every day and continued for months. Today, however, tobacco fields in the Eastern Rhodopes are far less numerous and this traditional livelihood is gradually giving way to other sources of income - such as aromatic and oil-bearing herbs, fruit growing, organic farming, and more.

The first experiment with growing stevia in the Eastern Rhodopes has already taken place, yielding promising results. This herbaceous plant, used as a natural sugar substitute due to its sweet leaves, originates from South America, but in recent years it has also been considered a potential alternative crop, including for regions where traditional tobacco cultivation is gradually losing ground.

Observations by a team from the Yordan Yovkov High School in Kardzhali, the Agricultural Institute in Shumen, and the Agricultural Experimental Station in the Eastern Rhodopes indicate that the plant thrives under local climatic conditions and may have potential as an alternative agricultural crop.

The experiment started after the success of students from the "Yordan Yovkov" School in Kardzhali, who, under the guidance of senior biology and health education teacher Vanya Encheva, grew stevia from seed. In April, the Agricultural Institute in Shumen provided 16 plants of the patented Bulgarian variety "Stella." Approximately 30 plants of the wild variety, cultivated by the students, were also planted in the experimental field.

For seven months, the plants were cultivated at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Dzhebel under the supervision of Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Elitsa Atanasova and her team. The experiment demonstrated that stevia thrives without the use of chemicals against diseases and pests and tolerates local conditions, including drought.

The results are particularly impressive for the "Stella" variety, which demonstrates significantly higher productivity compared to wild stevia. The plants have developed vigorously, exhibiting substantial weight and extensive branching. According to Vanya Encheva, this difference was expected given that the variety was created for higher yields, yet the magnitude of the result exceeded initial expectations.

The experiment will last at least three years. The next important stage is to determine whether stevia can survive the winter under local conditions and be cultivated as a perennial crop. Winters in the Eastern Rhodopes are generally milder but quite variable due to the terrain and the influence of warmer air from the south. Relatively little snow falls in the lower areas and the snow cover is short-lived.

The results of the agricultural experiment are already attracting interest outside the scientific and educational environment, with inquiries for the purchase of produce. However, the current crop is experimental and not intended for sale. Part of it will be donated to an endocrinology hospital department and the students are also preparing a stevia recipe book.

The team is also planning new partnerships, including with the Trakia University - Stara Zagora. The goal is to link the accumulated scientific and practical experience with entrepreneurship and the possibilities of developing a new agricultural product.

The first year of the experiment shows that stevia adapts well to the conditions of the Eastern Rhodopes and the "Stella" variety demonstrates high productivity. The results are to be followed up over the next two years to determine whether the plant can become a sustainable alternative to the region's traditional tobacco cultivation.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova