Bulgaria expects to produce a ton and a half of rose oil in 2012, according to Nedko Nedkov, director of the Institute of Roses and Essential Oil-Bearing Plants in the southeastern Bulgarian town of Kazanlak.

In an interview for the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), Nedkov specifies that Bulgaria's annual rose oil production is set to increase by 300 kg from 2011.

Rose blossoms retain the high price from the beginning of the season, trading at BGN 2.20 – 2.30 per kg, as compared to a peak price of BGN 1.70 – 1.80 per kg in 2011.

In Nedkov's words, rose pickers are paid BGN 0.60 per kilogram of rose blossoms, up by BGN 0.10 from 2011.

The rose picking season started on May 24 and will end on June 15.

Bulgaria has a total of 36 000 decares of rose gardens, 20 000 of which are located on the territory of the southeastern Stara Zagora district.