As of 2016 agriculture in the municipality is an efficient branch, preserving its traditions in some sectors from the recent past, represented by the two sub-sectors - plant breeding and animal breeding.
Under the influence of the appropriate natural and climatic features in the region, plant growing in the municipality of Harmanli has emerged as a traditional branch for the development of the local economy. The relatively high share of arable land is a major factor in the development of traditional sectors.
During the period, a system of stimulation of private agricultural practices was established by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Rural Development Fund through the State Agricultural Fund and the Rural Development Program, including through MIG Harmanli.
The insufficient organization of buying or processing the production is a problem of great importance. Competition on cheaper markets for agricultural products in neighboring countries also has a negative impact on crop production. The optimization of irrigated agriculture is unsatisfactory.
The traditions and skills of the residents in the municipality for highly productive and diverse agricultural products are the basis for the future development of agriculture, supported by measures for the quick and effective implementation of the market.
The development of Animal Husbandry takes place under the conditions of membership of the Republic of Bulgaria in the EU, and the activity of all those involved in ensuring production from animal husbandry - producers, processors, traders and administrators - is related to the implementation of stable, market-oriented and environmentally friendly production. Livestock breeders in the municipality are supported under the Program for the Development of Rural Areas, as well as through the provision of low-interest loans from the DF "Agriculture". Animal husbandry activities are traditional in the region. The development of buffalo breeding is extremely promising. Dairy and beef cattle breeding, sheep breeding and poultry breeding are a priority on the territory of the municipality.
Forestry
Forestry "Harmanli" includes several territorial units, incl. outside the area of the municipality. More specifically, Forestry covers the territory of the State and Municipal Forest Fund in the municipalities of Simeonovgrad, Harmanli and Madjarovo. The municipality of Harmanli includes areas from the forestry sections "Harmanli" and "Varbovo", within which it has areas of 197,317 decares (according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), constituting 28.40% of the total area of the municipality - 694,723 decares. From the forest fund (permanent purpose), the wood-producing forest areas are 98385 decares, others, incl. forested - 78% of them: 12,732 decares of protected forests in the area "Defileto - Olu dere" (on the Harmanliyska river); 305 decares of forest roads, 119 decares of forest fields, territories serving forestry, etc. departments - 64 decares, etc.
The organization of the management of the forest massifs is directly dependent on the purpose of the forests. Appropriate felling, afforestation and other measures for appropriate management and extraction of high-quality construction wood are provided for the group of forests with economic purpose. The goal is to use the soil fertility in the most rational way, without disturbing the water supply and soil protection functions of the forest.
The management of the group of forests with special purpose depends on the special functions they perform. It consists in preserving and increasing the aesthetic, hygienic, water protection and other special functions, according to the category of the forest. The measures are differentiated for each plantation, according to its condition.
Several types of felling are carried out on the territory of the Forestry: main (with the largest share of bare felling); cultivation felling (lighting and thinning prevail) and sanitary felling (for all plantings and crops with established diseased and damaged areas).
Among the side uses of the forest, the most important place is the grazing of livestock in the forests. A total of 251,551 decares of livestock grazing is permitted on the farm. Apart from the development of animal husbandry, the territory of the forestry has relatively good conditions for herb gathering. Annually, it is possible to collect about 3 tons of herbs (chamomile, St. John's Wort, St. John's wort, thyme, oregano, elderflower, hawthorn, etc.), 3 tons of wild berries and about 4 tons of walnut, almond and hazelnut forest fruit crops. Wild mushrooms can be harvested approximately 1.5 tons per year.
A new "Forest Management Plan" for the period 2016-2026 has been drawn up, which is in the process of being agreed upon and implies rational management of the forest areas.
