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The implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2007 has brought new dynamic changes to the business environment where this primary Bulgarian industry functions. Getting financial incentives to support income as well as incentives to comply with other European policies distorts the business environment in Bulgaria. The land reform has been a key element of the agricultural transformation during the long-term transition in Bulgaria, which aims to create favourable conditions for the establishment of market economy by decentralizing the process and restoring the right of ownership to all owners and their heirs. The problems related to the study of land relations are of eternal relevance and significance. The importance of land relations is much more essential for the sustainable development of the viable rural regions in Bulgaria, having in mind the favourable natural conditions and the traditions inextricably interwoven with the agricultural sector in the country. The comprehensive research of land relations is a key condition for studying their impact on the socio-economic processes and relations, thus focusing on certain synergistic opportunities for the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. The purpose of this article is to describe, present and analyze the role and challenges of land relations, as well as the related issues that are fundamental for the state of agriculture and the place of the sector in Bulgarian economy as a whole. The study also has a narrow focus on achieving the key goal of intensifying the links between education, business and public authorities in general. For the research analysis we will apply the scientific approach as well as the following methodological framework such as complex and structural analysis. The study focuses on the challenges and problems in the development of land relations in Bulgaria, as well as the range of land relations related to the social, economic, management and legal environment in Bulgaria. The institutional environment in Bulgarian agriculture is a complex system of symbiotic relationships, dynamically changing under the influence of national and sectoral legislation. The challenges and issues of land relations are an extremely complex social phenomenon. The economic, social and environmental influences involved in it has a two-way impact on the agricultural sector. The harmonization and improvement of institutional framework in compliance with the requirements of the EU - development of sectoral legislation, re-structuring of agricultural farms, as well as various aspects of the implementation of the CAP, competitiveness and development of rural regions, are part of the issues and challenges related to the sustainable development of land relations and the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land reform has been a key element of the agricultural transformation during the long-term transition in Bulgaria, which aims to create favorable conditions for the establishment of market economy by decentralizing the process and restoring the right of ownership to all owners and their heirs. Ever since the crucial 1989, the agricultural sector has experienced some serious changes, the most important of them being the implementation of the land reform and restitution of land in its real borders, and it has also faced some serious issues, such as destruction of the old production structures, privatization, as well as the lack of purposeful government policy or support for Bulgarian agriculture. The concept of agricultural extension services is to support the development of human resources, as well as to provide a good source of information necessary to solve the current issues that farmers in rural areas are facing today. The role of consultancy, which consists in creating an environment that favours the development of agriculture and rural areas, including incentives to support agricultural production, political stability and the system for land resource use, will guarantee the producer benefits that derive from the improvements made to their agricultural practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The institutional environment in Bulgarian agricultural sector is a complex system of relationships, dynamically changing under the influence of national and sectoral legislation. Over the last 16 years, was characterized as a difficult period for agriculture and land relations in Bulgaria -- because of insufficient legislation the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land Act about 34 changes have been made to the Act, which are directed in the interest of agricultural users. The changes made concern the concluded contracts for the use and lease of the agricultural land. The dynamics and future changes in land relations are inextricably linked to changes in European and national policy. Receiving European subsidies and financial support to the income of Bulgarian farmers deforms the economic environment in our country. The European subsidies are a key motive and priority for farmers. The purpose of this paper is to describe the state in Bulgarian agricultural sector which is characterized by intensity and dynamics, more complexity and instability. The value of the gross agricultural output had declined during the last years. This research work is based on the following methodological approaches: complex, structural and comparative. The theoretical framework of this article provides a summary overview of the main institutional changes in the agricultural policy and the structure of land relations in Bulgaria. For the purposes of the research different information sources have been used - scientific journals, as well as the author's own research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land relations are public relations arising on the basis of land use as an indispensable means of production in the agricultural sector. The purpose of this article is to analyze the challenges and trends in Bulgarian agriculture which is characterized by great intensity and dynamics. In the research of land relations, scientific approach is applied as well as the following methodological approaches: systematic, complex, structural, comparative and value-measuring. The methodical framework of this article provides a summary overview of the main changes in the agricultural policy and the structure of land relations in Bulgaria. For the purposes of the research different information sources have been used - scientific journals, publications by Bulgarian authors, as well as the author's own research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitization is the key topic of our time. The impact of new technologies has a huge potential especially in Bulgarian agriculture. In the conditions of the COVID-19 and financial crisis, Bulgarian agriculture faces a difficult choice -- farmers have to make serious investments in digitalization in order to be able to meet the European requirements related to food quality and environmental protection. The purpose of this article is to present and analyze the impact of digitalization on competitiveness of agricultural sector in Bulgaria, and to outline the direction related to the proper use of technologies for the rapid development of Bulgarian agriculture. The study is based on the documentation method which made of laws and regulations in the sphere of agriculture, as well as specific legislation related to digitalization. In the conditions of the COVID-pandemic which has accelerated the process of digitization and support for farmers who introduce digital technologies, innovative technologies for production and organization in agriculture, in order to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land relations are complex public relations arising on the basis of land use as an indispensable means of production in the agricultural sector. In the last three decades, the dynamics in development and the specifics of the complex processes related to the improvement of land relations in Bulgaria have reshaped public relations and led to significant institutional changes in the national economy, in particular in the agriculture in Bulgaria. A main factor for the dynamic changes in Bulgarian agriculture and land relations are the historical changes in the social model of society. The implementation of the Community agricultural policy after 2007 has brought new dynamic changes to the business environment in which this primary Bulgarian industry functions. The purpose of this article is to analyze the changes in Bulgarian agriculture which is characterized by great intensity and dynamics, as well as the dynamics in the development and specificity of land relations in Bulgaria in the context of the CAP. The methodical framework of this article provides a summary overview of the main changes in the agricultural policy and the structure of land relations in Bulgaria. A number of contemporary scientific quantitative and qualitative methods are used to achieve the intended objective set in this study: systematic and comparative analysis; monographic analysis; expert assessment. The results pointed out the fragmentation of the use of agricultural land, and the existence of a large number of small farms. In Bulgaria in recent years, extensive farming has been given a strong impetus at the expense of the intensive farming, a process that is of a sustainable nature and has a clear causal link. The agricultural sector has always been a strategic branch of Bulgarian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming is a multifunctional set of activities that integrates economic and social issues with those related to environmental protection and is a suitable alternative for producers, processors and traders, helping to make the best decision for the organization, management and development of their farms. This production method contains both its organizational and economic features and all the characteristics of agriculture. The goal of the present scientific paper is to analyse and evaluate the important role of organic farming for the agricultural sector development in Bulgaria. The study is based on directly collected empirical information from 73 organic farms operating on the territory of Plovdiv District in Bulgaria. Our research reveals prerequisites, opportunities, strategic guidelines and recommendations for increasing the economic efficiency of the organic production, and country's agriculture respectively for the next Programming Period 2021-2027. After overcoming the organizational and economic problems that accompany it, we believe that organic farming is substantial practical way and sustainable approach to the future progress of contemporary agriculture in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the institutional changes on the land relations in Bulgaria over the last 30 years is in response to the number of processes and changes that have taken place before and after the accession of the country to the European Union. The Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land Act, logically, has undergone the most changes (more than 70 changes by 2020). This dynamic of the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land Act reveals the existence of real issues in the socio-economic system of agriculture and the need to solve them. The existence of favourable soil and climatic conditions, long-standing traditions, rich practical experience, availability and development of new technological solutions and market-oriented innovations, use of modern varieties with improved biological potential, as well as the changes in the Land Act, clarifying the use of agricultural land, outline the future trends for the development of vegetable production in Bulgaria related to the harmonization of the institutional framework in compliance with the requirements of the EU - regulatory framework, strategies and programmes related to land market regulation. The purpose of this article is to analyse the changes in the new Agricultural Land Act, by assessing their impact on the status and dynamic of the vegetable sector, which is one of the most vulnerable sectors in the agricultural industry, as well as the complex processes of fragmentation of agricultural land in Bulgaria. The methodical framework of the study provides a summary overview of the main changes in the new Agricultural Land Act, as well as the degree of fragmentation of the land, which has a direct connection to the position of both parties in negotiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, organic production has been one of the sectors that has grown in terms of areas, animals and number of people involved in a control system, successfully applied in Bulgaria, even in times of crisis. The reasons why organic production develops favourably are diverse and are related to the recognized benefit for the development of rural regions and the environment, as well as to the need and preferences of consumers for healthy and quality foods and also to the excellent prerequisites for the development of organic production in Bulgaria and the support of organic producers under the Rural Development Programme. The aim of this article is to analyze the status and development of organic beekeeping in Bulgaria, as well as to highlight some issues faced by organic livestock sector, and thus to stimulate and encourage the development of the potential Bulgarian organic beekeeping. The research is based on official statistical data of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Bulgaria is a traditional producer of different types of organically certified honey with excellent quality indicators and a large part of the production is exported to the world market. There is a need for research, analysis and evaluation of the status of ecological beekeeping in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small-scale farms are the main group that has an important role for the development of the agricultural and rural area in Bulgaria. This family business is officially engaged in one member of the family farm and required employment power by all others members. The small-scale farmers with agricultural education are very small. This type of farmers has mostly practical agricultural knowledge and experience and funds their investment costs with their own financial resources. The goal of the present paper is to investigate the role of the extension services for the small-scale farmers. To achieve above goal was (1) to identify farmers' needs for information and knowledge, (2) to identify actors and their methods of exchange knowledge and (3) to present the processes of achieving knowledge and information among involved actors. The result of the study shows that extension services provided by National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS) are actively used by small-scale farmers who participate in the Rural and Development Programme. Whereas, all others small-scale farmers use their own knowledge that they have from off-farming activities and receive knowledge by other informal consultancy services such as local agronomists or neighbor farmers. The small farmers rarely used knowledge and information by expert of the scientific institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to explain the mechanisms through which knowledge is transferred in the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. To identify these mechanisms of interaction between science and practice and existing limitations and weaknesses, three scientific institutes, one experiment station and the Agricultural University were selected. Case study approach was used for selected small and large-scale agricultural producers in South-Central of Bulgaria, utilizing the scientific achievements and consultancy services of the regional scientific institutes and University. The questionnaires incorporated open questions to understand how the knowledge transfer process towards its practical application works and the requirement of innovations and the establishment of new technologies in Bulgaria. The results of the study show that large-scale agricultural producers require specialized knowledge related to fighting diseases and pests, knowledge for implementation of new technologies offered by the scientific institutes etc., while, the small-scale producers seek knowledge related to the production process itself and methods to reduce production costs and achieve higher yields. The knowledge transfer from the Agricultural University and scientific institutes to the agricultural producers is performed through various channels, like demonstration and commercial fields at the scientific institutes, advice provided on site, international trade companies and informal channels. The difficulties that the agricultural producers and suppliers face regarding knowledge transfer is the poor access to agricultural advice for farms located away from the district administrative centers, the lack of information about events organized by the scientific centers, the lack of proper promotion of the results from the demonstration fields and a underdeveloped system for technology and knowledge transfer towards the farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to assess the bankruptcy risk of selected meat processing enterprises, such as: Indykpol SA, Pamapol SA and Tarczyński SA. For the analysis, 450 financial data were collected and used in the models. The main criteria for the selection of the companies for testing were as follows: carrying out the main business in the area of meat processing, legal status: limited liability company, employment of more than 50 people and availability of financial data. The analysis showed that all surveyed companies were in a very good financial situation. Pamapol SA faced the greatest threat of bankruptcy in 2008-2009 and 2012-2013. Extremely sensitive to the deteriorating situation, and thus to the most common threat of bankruptcy, proved to be the D. Wierzby model in 2009 for all companies, and only for Pamapol SA in 2008 and in 2009 (after the D. Hadasik model). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive description and comparative analysis of the Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) in Bulgaria and Romania, with a particular focus on the agricultural advisory services. The main role of AKIS, in both countries, is to support the exchange of knowledge, information and services between many diverse public and private advisory organizations, on the one hand, and farmers on the other hand. AKIS's strengths and weaknesses were analyzed and compared in both countries by using descriptive and comparative approaches. The results showed similarities and differences of AKIS and FAS for supporting farmers in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, Discrete Structural Analysis (DSA) of the contracts gravitating around the agricultural lands in Bulgaria are made. In practice, this means looking at both market and non-market frameworks of exchange or protection of agricultural land ownership rights. To do this, a methodology from economics, law, and organization is used. Temporal historical methods are combined to review legal norms and economic institutions, their interactions, and what impact they define in different contractual frameworks. Contracts presented as Governance Structure (GS) -- a set of fragments related to institutional actors, their behavior as a set of transactions; institutional effects -- Transaction Costs (TrCs). What happens in the contracts related to agricultural lands should serve to improve the conditions in which the actor functions, which is always related to establishing the "mistakes" of the system, illuminating a trajectory that would improve their adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the trends and development of Bulgarian beekeeping. The study is based on official statistical data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and fieldwork study for the period 2009-2012. To achieve the above aim, first of all, the authors trance the changes in the production of honey until 2012 and second they analyze the distribution of farms according the number of bee colonies and prophylactic methods of their feeding up. In addition, in study was revealed the reasons for distribution of the bee colonies and identified the important problems facing the sector in term of the legislation, protection of the bee colonies, the control of the importing the queen bees and market development of the bee products. The one of main results of the study showed that the number of bee colonies in the country decrease even highly expert-oriented production of honey in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifunctionality of agriculture is a crucial element of the system of the national economy. Land preservation and restoration is the main objective in the strategy of multifunctional agriculture, ensuring the provision of necessary food products and raw materials for the next generation. Multifunctional agriculture occurs mainly in the countries members of the EU, though its development is at a different level depending on the situation in individual countries. The aim of the study is to analyze the social and economic effects of the application of multifunctional agriculture. The study is based on good practices of different farms in Bulgaria and Germany. The results show that multifunctional agriculture provides a stable social and economic development of agricultural farms and contributes to the development of vital rural regions in which they are located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted in the Plovdiv region, which is one of the most intensive agricultural regions in Bulgaria. The agricultural production in the region such as vegetables, fruits, grapes and livestock is developed with priority. They are characterized by high labour intensity. The present status of labour resources is essential for the development of the farms in the region. The aim of this article is to analyze and assess the condition of labour resources, to monitor the track of trends in their development and to show the best practices in the production. In this regard, assessment of labour resources has been done in three farms according to their number, age, gender and qualifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to develop and validate a methodology for analyzing and assessing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises. The process of establishing a methodology for analyzing and assessing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises covers two main stages -- (1) identification of indicators for analyzing and assessing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises and (2) validation of indicators for assessing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises. The main methods used for designing the methodology are the multi-criteria analysis method and the expert assessment method. The markers for diagnostics of competitiveness of the agricultural enterprise are - competitiveness of the products produced by it; degree of adaptability towards the changing environment; price leadership and product differentiation; availability of innovation activity, degree of concentration of capital in the business model, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]