Mild weather helped autumn sowings in Bulgaria and its 2013 wheat crop is likely to be close to 4.5 million tonnes, slightly up from 4.4 million last year, interim Agriculture Minister Ivan Stankov said on Friday.

The wheat sowings were in good condition, although recent rains delayed treatment with pesticides against weeds and fungus diseases, Stankov said on the sidelines of an agriculture forum.

"The crop will be better than last year's. It may not reach 4.5 million tonnes but will be close, given that we get more sunny days," Stankov said.