Bulgaria raises wheat forecast

Despite floods, bad weather and delayed sowings, Bulgaria's agriculture ministry raised its 2006 wheat crop estimate on Friday, saying it should meet domestic demand and allow exports.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Svetla Bachvarova said sowing conditions indicated the Black Sea state would reap 3.1 million tonnes of wheat this year, from a previous forecast of 2.8-3.0 million tonnes.
The new forecast put to rest fears that floods on the Danube river, which swamped vast swathes of land across south-east Europe and drove 10,000 people from their homes in April, had not badly hit Bulgarian farms.